EP1434045A2 - Härtemessungsvorrichtung - Google Patents

Härtemessungsvorrichtung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1434045A2
EP1434045A2 EP03258222A EP03258222A EP1434045A2 EP 1434045 A2 EP1434045 A2 EP 1434045A2 EP 03258222 A EP03258222 A EP 03258222A EP 03258222 A EP03258222 A EP 03258222A EP 1434045 A2 EP1434045 A2 EP 1434045A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
force
indenter
sample
testing apparatus
shaft
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP03258222A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1434045B1 (de
EP1434045A3 (de
Inventor
Fumihiko c/o Akashi Sagami Plant KOSHIMIZU
Eiji c/o Akashi Sagami Plant FURUTA
Ryouji Akashi Sagami Plant NAKAMURA
Satoko c/o Akashi Sagami Plant NOMAGUCHI
Ryotaro Akashi Sagami Plant FUKUCHI
Masaharu c/o Akashi Sagami Plant TSUJII
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mitutoyo Corp
Original Assignee
Mitutoyo Corp
Akashi Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from JP2002374670A external-priority patent/JP2004205334A/ja
Priority claimed from JP2003017427A external-priority patent/JP3875639B2/ja
Priority claimed from JP2003041062A external-priority patent/JP3875644B2/ja
Priority claimed from JP2003298764A external-priority patent/JP2005069819A/ja
Priority claimed from JP2003350747A external-priority patent/JP2005114608A/ja
Priority claimed from JP2003350796A external-priority patent/JP4250497B2/ja
Priority claimed from JP2003361881A external-priority patent/JP4171693B2/ja
Application filed by Mitutoyo Corp, Akashi Corp filed Critical Mitutoyo Corp
Publication of EP1434045A2 publication Critical patent/EP1434045A2/de
Publication of EP1434045A3 publication Critical patent/EP1434045A3/de
Publication of EP1434045B1 publication Critical patent/EP1434045B1/de
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N3/00—Investigating strength properties of solid materials by application of mechanical stress
    • G01N3/40—Investigating hardness or rebound hardness
    • G01N3/42—Investigating hardness or rebound hardness by performing impressions under a steady load by indentors, e.g. sphere, pyramid
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N2203/00—Investigating strength properties of solid materials by application of mechanical stress
    • G01N2203/02—Details not specific for a particular testing method
    • G01N2203/06—Indicating or recording means; Sensing means
    • G01N2203/0641—Indicating or recording means; Sensing means using optical, X-ray, ultraviolet, infrared or similar detectors
    • G01N2203/0647—Image analysis
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N2203/00—Investigating strength properties of solid materials by application of mechanical stress
    • G01N2203/02—Details not specific for a particular testing method
    • G01N2203/06—Indicating or recording means; Sensing means
    • G01N2203/067—Parameter measured for estimating the property
    • G01N2203/0676—Force, weight, load, energy, speed or acceleration
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N2203/00—Investigating strength properties of solid materials by application of mechanical stress
    • G01N2203/02—Details not specific for a particular testing method
    • G01N2203/06—Indicating or recording means; Sensing means
    • G01N2203/067—Parameter measured for estimating the property
    • G01N2203/0682—Spatial dimension, e.g. length, area, angle

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a hardness testing apparatus in which a hardness of a sample is measured by forming a dimple on the surface of the sample.
  • a hardness testing apparatus In a first earlier development, a hardness testing apparatus is used. In this apparatus, a load is applied to the surface of a sample by an indenter to form a dimple on the surface of the sample, and a hardness of the sample is measured.
  • a hardness testing apparatus 500 shown in FIG. 25 is known (for example, refer to FIG. 2 of Published Japanese Patent Application (Tokkaihei) No. H10-132722).
  • the hardness testing apparatus 500 has an indenter shaft unit 510 having an indenter shaft 502 and a load applying mechanism 530 for applying a predetermined load to the indenter shaft 502.
  • An indenter 501 is arranged on the top of the indenter shaft 502 to form a dimple in a sample S mounted on a sample stand 555.
  • the indenter shaft unit 510 is placed above the sample stand 555 and has a supporting frame 503 arranged on a body (not shown) of the testing apparatus 500, a supporting spring 504 arranged on an indenter shaft support 503a which stands on the supporting frame 503, a motion plate 507 elastically supported by the supporting frame 503 through a plate spring 505 and a return spring 506, a push bar 508 arranged on the supporting frame 503 so as to be movable in the upper and lower directions, the indenter shaft 502 and the like.
  • a lower end 508a of the push bar 508 comes in contact with an external end 507b of the motion plate 507.
  • An upper end 502a of the indenter shaft 502 is attached to the supporting spring 504, and a contact member 502b of the indenter shaft 502 is supported by a shaft receiver 507a of the motion plate 507 placed below the indenter shaft 502.
  • the load applying mechanism 530 has a dead weight member 570 arranged above the indenter shaft unit 510 and a control lever 520.
  • the control lever 520 is supported by a rotational shaft 521 at the almost center of the control lever 520 so as to rotate around the body of the testing apparatus.
  • a pressing member 522 is arranged on one end 520a of the control lever 520 to push down the upper end of the pushing bar 508 of the indenter shaft unit 510.
  • a roller 524 being rotatably contact with an eccentric cam 523 is attached to the other end 520b of the control lever 520.
  • the control lever 520 extends from the rotational shaft 521 toward a position above the indenter shaft unit 510 and extends above the indenter shaft 502, and the end 520a of the control lever 520 pushes down the pushing bar 508 at an upper position of the pushing bar 508.
  • a hole 520c extending in the vertical direction is formed in the control lever 520 on a position placed above the indenter shaft 502 of the control lever 520.
  • the dead weight member 570 has a plurality of dead weights 571, a load shaft 572 vertically extending in the center of the dead weight member 570, and a casing 573 covering the dead weights 571.
  • a lower portion of the load shaft 572 penetrates through the hole 520c of the control lever 520 and extends downward, and a lower end 572a of the load shaft 572 is arranged so as to be opposite to an upper end 502a of the indenter shaft 502.
  • a pin 574 projects from the load shaft 572 and comes in contact with the control lever 520 from its upper side.
  • the control lever 520 is rotated with the rotation of the eccentric cam 523 to push down the push bar 508 of the indenter shaft unit 510 or to release the push-down of the push bar 508.
  • the supporting frame 503 motion plate 507 is pushed down.
  • the control lever 520 lowers the position of the dead weight member 570 to apply a predetermined load to the indenter shaft 502.
  • the sample S is mounted on the sample stand 555 placed below the indenter shaft 502 in the body of the hardness testing apparatus 500, and the position of the indenter shaft 502 is lowered by rotating the eccentric cam 523 and lowering the position of the dead weight member 570.
  • the position of the indenter shaft 502 is lowered so as to make the top of the indenter 501 come in contact with the sample S, the indenter shaft 502 is released from the shaft receiver 507a of the motion plate 507.
  • the dead weight member 570 applies a predetermined load (weight of the dead weights 571; test force, for example, from almost 98mN to 20N) to the indenter shaft 502, and a dimple is formed in the sample S by the indenter 501.
  • a predetermined load weight of the dead weights 571; test force, for example, from almost 98mN to 20N
  • the control lever 520 is rotated in the direction reverse to that in the formation of the dimple to heighten the position of the supporting frame 503 (motion plate 507) and to move the indenter shaft 502 upward, and the indenter shaft 502 departs from the sample S. Therefore, the size of the dimple or the like is measured by observing the dimple formed in the sample S with a microscope (not shown) or the like, and a hardness of the sample S is determined.
  • the action force influences on the test force output based on the dead weights 571 of the dead weight member 570, and the hardness test is performed at a test force slightly different from the substantial test force.
  • test force required to form the dimple in the sample S is output by the dead weight member 570 of the hardness testing apparatus 500, the test force is discretely output according to each dead weight 571 in the range based on the dead weights 571 of the dead weight member 570.
  • an indenter shaft 544 having an indenter 543 at the top thereof is elastically supported to a body 542 of the testing apparatus through supporting springs 545.
  • a predetermined force F is applied to the indenter shaft 544 in its axial direction to push the indenter 543 to a sample, and a dimple is formed in the sample.
  • a hardness of the sample is measured according to the shape of the dimple (for example, refer to Published Japanese Patent Application (Tokkaihei) No. H11-37915).
  • a hardness testing apparatus disclosed in Published Japanese Patent Application (Tokkai) No. 2003-161684 has an indenter supporting bar having an indenter at the top thereof, a supporting mechanism for movably supporting the indenter supporting bar, and an actuator for driving the indenter supporting bar in its axial direction.
  • the supporting mechanism has two plate springs supporting the top and bottom of the indenter supporting bar respectively and formed in an E shape.
  • the plate springs are arranged at upper and lower positions of the indenter supporting bar respectively and extend in parallel to each other in the same direction as each other. Open ends of both side spring portions in each plate spring are fixed to a fixed frame, and an open end of the central spring portion in each plate spring is fixed to the indenter supporting bar supporting the indenter.
  • the indenter supporting bar When a predetermined force is applied to the indenter supporting bar in an axial direction of the indenter supporting bar, the side spring portions and the central spring portions of the plate springs are deformed. Circular motions of the side spring portions and the central spring portions in the plate springs arranged in parallel to each other are cancelled out each other with the deformation of the plate springs, and the indenter supporting bar can straight move. Therefore, the indenter always faces the surface of the sample without changing the direction of the indenter, and the indenter performs only the straight movememt.
  • the indenter supporting bar vibrates due to disturbance
  • the indenter supporting bar vibrates in the upper and lower directions at its characteristic frequency.
  • the load applied to the sample is changed due to the influence of vibration of disturbance. Therefore, another problem is arisen that a hardness of the sample is erroneously measured in the test of a low hardness of a film or the like.
  • the indenter supporting bar when the force is applied to the indenter supporting bar, the two upper and lower plate springs are independently moved. Therefore, the indenter supporting bar slightly deviates in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the bar, and the dimple formed by the indenter is deformed. As a result, another problem is arisen that a hardness of the sample is erroneously measured.
  • the indenter supporting bar can be further straight moved in the axial direction of the bar.
  • Vickers hardness testing apparatus is known as a hardness testing apparatus (for example, refer to Published Japanese Patent Application (Tokkai) No. 2000-292333).
  • the size for example, length between predetermined points of dimple (length of diagonal line)
  • the Vickers hardness testing apparatus has an indenter for forming the dimple in the sample and an objective lens for displaying an enlarged image of the dimple formed by the indenter on a monitor. Normally, a plurality of objective lenses are prepared to measure dimples having various sizes.
  • a first object of the present invention is to provide a hardness testing apparatus, in which a hardness test is performed at a further correct test force.
  • a second object is to provide a hardness testing apparatus in which a hardness test is performed at various test forces of a wide range.
  • a third object is to provide a hardness testing apparatus in which a dimple is further accurately formed on the surface of a sample by an indenter .
  • a fourth object is to provide a hardness testing apparatus in which a hardness test is performed with further accuracy while reducing measurement error caused by influence of vibration of disturbance and/or a moving speed of an indenter.
  • a fifth object is to provide a hardness testing apparatus in which a hardness test is performed with further accuracy while reducing measurement error caused by influence of vibration of disturbance without any complicated mechanism.
  • a sixth object is to provide a hardness testing apparatus in which a test force corresponding to a hardness of a sample assumed by a user is set with accuracy.
  • a seventh object is to provide a hardness testing apparatus in which a person not sufficiently skilled in a hardness test can perform the hardness test.
  • a hardness testing apparatus (41, 42, 43) comprising:
  • the external force adjustment and control section performs the control for deadening the external force applied from the outside of the hardness testing apparatus to the indenter shaft by adjusting the driving of the force motor so as to deaden the external force detected by the external force detection section.
  • the external force adjustment and control section controls the force motor to deaden influence of the external force on the movement of the indenter shaft.
  • the force motor moves the indenter shaft in its axial direction so as to make the indenter apply the predetermined test force to the sample.
  • vibration from the outside of the hardness testing apparatus is applied to the indenter shaft as an external force so as to influence on the movement of the indenter shaft.
  • the external force adjustment and control section adjusts and controls the movement of the indenter shaft performed by the force motor so as to reduce load equivalent to the force caused by the vibration.
  • the external force adjustment and control section adjusts and controls the movement of the indenter shaft performed by the force motor so as to increase load equivalent to the force caused by the vibration.
  • the hardness testing apparatus can perform the hardness test at a further correct test force.
  • a hardness testing apparatus (41, 42, 43) comprising:
  • the self-weight adjustment and control section when the force motor moves the indenter shaft having the indenter at the top thereof in its axial direction and applies the predetermined test force to the sample through the indenter, the self-weight adjustment and control section performs the control for deadening a load force based on a self-weight of the intender shaft and acting on the movement of the indenter shaft by adjusting the driving of the force motor.
  • the self-weight adjustment and control section controls the driving of the force motor so as to deaden influence of the load force on the movement of the indenter shaft.
  • the force motor moves the indenter shaft in its axial direction so as to make the indenter apply the predetermined test force to the sample.
  • the load force caused by the self-weight of the intender shaft of the hardness testing apparatus influences on the movement of the indenter shaft.
  • the self-weight adjustment and control section adjusts and controls the movement of the indenter shaft performed by the force motor so as to reduce load equivalent to the load force.
  • the hardness testing apparatus can perform the hardness test at a further correct test force.
  • a hardness testing apparatus (41, 42, 43) comprising:
  • the repulsion force adjustment and control section adjusts the driving of the force motor to perform the control for deadening a repulsion force acting on the indenter shaft due to deformation of the elastic supporting structure elastically supporting the intender shaft when the intender shaft is moved in its axial direction.
  • a recovery action force is generated when the elastic supporting structure elastically deformed due to the movement of the intender shaft in its axial direction is returned to the original shape.
  • the repulsion force adjustment and control section controls the driving of the force motor so as to deaden influence of the repulsion force on the movement of the indenter shaft.
  • the force motor moves the indenter shaft in its axial direction so as to make the indenter apply the predetermined test force to the sample.
  • the repulsion force generated by deformation of the elastic supporting structure elastically supporting the intender shaft of the hardness testing apparatus is transmitted to the intender shaft and influences on the movement of the indenter shaft.
  • the repulsion force adjustment and control section adjusts and controls the movement of the indenter shaft performed by the force motor so as to increase load equivalent to the repulsion force.
  • the hardness testing apparatus can perform the hardness test at a further correct test force.
  • the hardness testing apparatus further comprises:
  • the first force motor applies a force within range of a first test force to the sample through the indenter by moving the indenter shaft in its axial direction
  • the second force motor applies a force within range of a second test force to the sample through the indenter by making the pressing member move the indenter shaft in its axial direction.
  • the hardness testing apparatus can perform the hardness test at a force (test force) obtained by combining forces applied by the first and second force motors to the intender shaft.
  • the hardness testing apparatus can perform the hardness test at various forces (test forces) obtained by combining test forces (load forces, driving forces) output from the first and second force motors.
  • the test force output by combining the forces of the force motors can become almost twice as compared with that in the use of the single force motor. Accordingly, the hardness test can be performed at the test forces of further wide range.
  • test force corresponding to the object can be output, and the hardness test can be performed at the test forces of wide range.
  • the hardness testing apparatus can apply the predetermined test force to the sample through the intender by adjusting and controlling one force motor to move the loading shaft so as to output a predetermined test force and adjusting and controlling the other force motor to move and drive the loading shaft so as to deaden the action force disturbing the action of the test force. Accordingly, the hardness testing apparatus can perform the hardness test at a further correct test force.
  • the pressing member comprises a lever (for example, control lever 50) rotatably supported by a shaft (for example, rotational shaft 51) extending perpendicularly to the axial direction of the indenter shaft, an end (for example, another end 50b) of the lever pressing the indenter shaft while the lever is rotated
  • the hardness testing apparatus further comprises a center-of-mass adjustment and control section (74) for controlling at least one of the first and second force motors to apply the predetermined test force to the sample while deadening a moment force acting on the indenter shaft due to movement of a center-of-mass of the lever caused by rotational movement of the lever when the indenter shaft is moved.
  • the same effect as that in the hardness testing apparatus described just before can be obtained.
  • the end of the lever applies the pressing force to the intender shaft, moves the intender shaft in its axial direction and applies the predetermined test force to the shaft through the intender.
  • the center-of-mass adjustment and control section adjusts at least one of the driving forces of the first and second force motors
  • the center-of-mass adjustment and control section performs the control for deadening the moment force acting on the indenter shaft due to movement of the center-of-mass of the lever caused by the rotational movement of the lever.
  • the center-of-mass adjustment and control section controls the driving of the force motors so as to deaden influence of the moment force on the movement of the intender shaft.
  • the force motors move the intender shaft in its axial direction to make the intender apply the predetermined test force to the sample.
  • a moment force based on the movement of the center-of-mass of the lever toward the side of the intender shaft due to inclination of the lever of the pressing member of the hardness testing apparatus rotationally moved is applied to the intender shaft.
  • the center-of-mass adjustment and control section adjusts and controls the movement of the intender shaft performed by the force motors so as to reduce the load equivalent to the moment force.
  • the hardness testing apparatus can perform the hardness test at a further correct test force.
  • a hardness testing apparatus comprising:
  • the first load applying mechanism applies the force within range of a first test force to the sample through the indenter by moving the indenter shaft in its axial direction
  • the second load applying mechanism applies the force within range of a second test force to the sample through the indenter by making the pressing member move the indenter shaft in its axial direction. That is, the hardness testing apparatus can perform the hardness test by the force (test force) obtained by combing forces applied to the intender shafts by the first and second load applying mechanisms.
  • the hardness testing apparatus can perform the hardness test at various forces (test forces) obtained by combining the test forces (loading forces, driving forces) output from the two load applying mechanisms.
  • the test force output by combining the forces of the two load applying mechanisms can become almost twice as compared with that in the use of the single load applying mechanism. Accordingly, the hardness test can be performed at the test forces of further wide range.
  • the hardness testing apparatus can output various test forces in wide range by outputting a combined force of the two load applying mechanisms, and the hardness test can be performed at the test forces of wide range.
  • the pressing member comprises a lever (for example, control lever 50) rotatably supported by a shaft (for example, rotational shaft 51) extending perpendicularly to the axial direction of the indenter shaft, and the second load applying mechanism apply an action force to an end (50a) of the lever to make another end (50b) of the lever press the indenter shaft and apply the second test force to the sample in the axial direction of the indenter shaft.
  • a lever for example, control lever 50
  • a shaft for example, rotational shaft 51
  • the second load applying mechanism applies an action force to one end of the lever rotatably supported by the shaft extending perpendicularly to the axial direction of the indenter shaft, and the other end of the lever applies a pressing force to the indenter shaft. That is, in the hardness testing apparatus, the second load applying mechanism presses the indenter shaft through the lever and applies the second test force to the sample in the axial direction of the indenter shaft.
  • the second load applying mechanism can apply the test force to the intender shaft as a larger pressing force by using so-called "principle of lever".
  • the first and second load applying mechanisms are force motors (10, 30).
  • the load applying mechanisms are force motors
  • the load applying mechanisms generates an arbitrary driving force according to an amount of current supplied to the force motors and can apply various forces (test forces) to the intender shaft according to the driving force.
  • the load applying mechanisms output stepless driving forces by adjusting the amount of current supplied to the force motors in stepless, and the load applying mechanisms can apply stepless forces (test forces) to the intender shaft.
  • a hardness testing apparatus (44, 45, 46, 47, 48) comprising:
  • the indenter shaft when the load applying mechanism applies the predetermined force to the indenter shaft in its axial direction, the indenter shaft is moved while warping the first elastic member having the end fixed to the indenter shaft. Further, the predetermined force of the load applying mechanism is transmitted to the second elastic member connected to the other end of the first elastic member through the connecting portion, and the second elastic member is also warped. Because the first elastic member is warped by the warp of the second elastic member, the movement of the indenter shaft in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the indenter shaft is deadened. Therefore, the indenter shaft can be moved along its axial direction without displacing the shaft axis of the indenter shaft in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the indenter shaft.
  • the indenter can be pressed to the sample in the axial direction of the indenter shaft, a dimple can be formed with further accuracy, and the measuring test of the hardness of the sample can be performed with further accuracy.
  • the first and second elastic members are integrally formed out of a plate spring (151, 351).
  • the same effect as that in the hardness testing apparatus according to the fifth aspect can be obtained.
  • the first and second elastic members are integrally formed out of a plate spring, spring constants and amounts of warp of the first and second elastic members can be easily adjusted by adjusting shapes of the first and second elastic members.
  • the first and second elastic members can have the almost same spring constant and the almost same amount of warp as each other by setting the first and second elastic members having the almost same shape as each other.
  • the supporting structure comprises at least two structures (151), and each structure comprise the first elastic member, the second elastic member and the connecting portion.
  • the same effect as that in the hardness testing apparatus according to the fifth aspect can be obtained. Further, because the indenter shaft is supported on the test apparatus body by the structures at least two points, the displacement and inclination of the shaft axis of the intender shaft can be further easily prevented, and the intender shaft can be further stably moved in its axial direction.
  • the hardness testing apparatus further comprises an attenuator (for example, damping coil 164 and the like) for attenuating vibration of the indenter shaft.
  • an attenuator for example, damping coil 164 and the like
  • vibration of the indenter shaft occurring due to moving speed of the intender and/or influence of vibration of disturbance can be attenuated by the attenuator, measuring error can be reduced, and a measuring result can be obtained with further accuracy.
  • the load applying mechanism comprises:
  • the same effect as that in the hardness testing apparatus for the fourth object can be obtained. Further, when vibration of disturbance acts on the indenter shaft to vibrate the indenter shaft, an electromotive force is generated in the damping coil arranged in the magnetic field induced by the magnetic field inducing member, and current flows. Accordingly, because an attenuation force is generated, vibration of the indenter shaft can be appropriately attenuated.
  • the attenuator further comprises a variable resistor (165) connected to the damping coil.
  • the same effect as that in the hardness testing apparatus for the fourth object can be obtained. Further, because the resistance value of the damping coil can be changed by the variable resistor connected to the damping coil, the attenuation force attenuating vibration of the indenter shaft can be adjusted.
  • the load applying mechanism comprises:
  • the same effect as that in the hardness testing apparatus for the fourth object can be obtained. Further, when vibration of disturbance acts on the indenter shaft to vibrate the indenter shaft, an electromotive force is generated in the coil bobbin made of conductor on which the driving coil is wound, and current flows. Accordingly, because an attenuation force is generated, vibration of the indenter shaft can be appropriately and easily attenuated.
  • the supporting structure comprises:
  • the same effect as that in the hardness testing apparatus for the fourth object can be obtained. Further, because the connecting member connects the connecting portions of each pair of structures adjacent to each other, independent motion of the connecting portions can be prevented, and the indenter shaft can be straight moved in its axial direction.
  • the hardness testing apparatus further comprises a connecting member attenuator (190; 191) for attenuating vibration of the connecting member.
  • a connecting member attenuator 190; 191 for attenuating vibration of the connecting member.
  • the same effect as that in the hardness testing apparatus just described before can be obtained. Further, because vibration of the connecting member is attenuated by the connecting member attenuator, the attenuation force can be further enlarged.
  • the supporting structure comprises:
  • the connecting member connects the connecting portions of each pair of structures adjacent to each other, and vibration of the connecting member can be attenuated by the connecting member attenuator. Therefore, vibration of the indenter shaft occurring due to moving speed of the intender and/or influence of vibration of disturbance can be attenuated in the hardness test. Accordingly, measuring error can be reduced, and a measuring result can be obtained with further accuracy.
  • the connecting member attenuator comprises:
  • the same effect as that in the hardness testing apparatus according to the fifth aspect can be obtained. Further, particularly, when vibration of disturbance acts on the indenter shaft to vibrate the indenter shaft, an electromotive force is generated in the connecting member damping coil arranged in the magnetic field induced by the magnetic field inducing member, and current flows. Accordingly, because an attenuation force is generated, vibration of the indenter shaft can be appropriately attenuated.
  • the connecting member attenuator further comprises:
  • the same effect as that in the hardness testing apparatus just described before can be obtained. Further, because the resistance value of the connecting member damping coil can be changed by the connecting member variable resistor connected to the connecting member damping coil, the attenuation force attenuating vibration of the indenter shaft can be adjusted.
  • the connecting member is made of non-magnetic conductor
  • the connecting member attenuator comprises a connecting member magnetic field inducing member (180) for inducing a magnetic field, and a portion of the connecting member is arranged in the magnetic field induced by the connecting member magnetic field inducing member.
  • the connecting member is made of non-magnetic conductor
  • the connecting member attenuator comprises the connecting member magnetic field inducing member for inducing the magnetic field. Because the connecting member is arranged in the magnetic field induced by the connecting member magnetic field inducing member, an electromotive force is generated in the connecting member, and current flows through the connecting member. Accordingly, because an attenuation force is generated, vibration of the indenter shaft can be appropriately and easily attenuated.
  • the supporting structure comprises:
  • the warped shapes of the first and second elastic members of the supporting structure approach the straight shapes while the intender shaft is moved toward the sample, and the first and second elastic members extend in the almost straight shapes in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the intender shaft when the intender reaches the surface of the sample. Therefore, even though vibration of disturbance acts on the connecting member of the supporting structure when a dimple is formed on the surface of the sample by the indenter, the indenter shaft is not displaced in the direction perpendicular to its axial direction. Accordingly, because the dimple formed by the indenter is not deformed, error in measuring a hardness can be reduced without any complicated mechanism.
  • spring constants of the first and second elastic members are increased as displacement of the first and second elastic members becomes small, and the spring constants of the first and second elastic members are decreased as the displacement of the first and second elastic members becomes large.
  • the first and second elastic members have a non-linear elastic characteristic. That is, the spring constants of the first and second elastic members are increased as displacement of the first and second elastic members becomes small, and the spring constants of the first and second elastic members are decreased as the displacement of the first and second elastic members becomes large. Therefore, when displacement of the first and second elastic members is large, that is, when the first and second elastic members extend to change warped shapes to straight shapes by applying the predetermined test force to the intender shaft to move the intender shaft toward the sample, the spring constants of the first and second elastic members are decreased, and stiffness of the first and second elastic members in the axial direction of the intender shaft can be decreased. Accordingly, because an amount of correction in calculation of a substantial test force can be reduced, error in measuring a hardness can be further reduced without any complicated mechanism. In view of further reducing the amount of correction, it is desirable that the first and second elastic members are thinly formed.
  • the intender shaft can be supported only by the first elastic member. Accordingly, no other mechanism for supporting the intender shaft having the self-weight is not required.
  • a hardness testing apparatus for example, hardness testing apparatus 601, which has a plurality of object lenses (for example, object lenses 407) to display an enlarged image of a dimple formed on a surface of a sample (for example, sample S) by an indenter (for example, intender 405) on a display and measures a hardness of the sample according to the dimple, comprising:
  • the test force applying section applies a predetermined test force to the intender
  • the intender is pushed into the sample, and a dimple is formed.
  • the penetration detection section detects an amount of penetration of the intender into the sample
  • the distance calculation section calculates a distance between predetermined characteristic points of the dimple according to the distance.
  • the objective lens selection section selects one predetermined objective lens from the objective lenses according to the distance
  • the notification section notifies the user of a specification of the selected predetermined objective lens. That is, though the user performs the selection of one objective lens corresponding to the dimple by user's experience in the earlier development, the hardness testing apparatus automatically performs the selection of one objective lens corresponding to the dimple.
  • the user of the hardness testing apparatus is not required to select one objective lens by user's experience or acknowledge in the hardness test, even a person insufficiently skilled in the hardness test can easily perform the hardness test.
  • the hardness testing apparatus further comprises:
  • the driving control section controls the driving section to move the intender and to move the selected predetermined objective lens above the dimple.
  • the user of the hardness testing apparatus is not required to select one objective lens by user's experience or acknowledge in the hardness test. Further, because the user is not required to set one objective lens corresponding to the dimple by himself or herself, even a person insufficiently skilled in the hardness test can easily perform the hardness test.
  • a hardness testing apparatus for example, hardness testing apparatus 601, which has a plurality of object lenses (for example, object lenses 407) to display an enlarged image of a dimple formed on a surface of a sample (for example, sample S) by an indenter (for example, intender 405) on a display and measures a hardness of the sample according to the dimple, comprises:
  • the test force applying section applies a predetermined test force to the intender
  • the intender is pushed into the sample, and a dimple is formed.
  • the penetration detection section detects an amount of penetration of the intender into the sample
  • the distance calculation section calculates a distance between predetermined characteristic points of the dimple according to the amount of penetration.
  • the objective lens selection section selects one predetermined objective lens from the objective lenses according to the distance
  • the driving control section controls the driving section to move the intender after formation of the dimple and to move the selected predetermined objective lens above the dimple. That is, though the user performs the selection of one objective lens corresponding to the dimple by user's experience in the earlier development, the hardness testing apparatus automatically performs the selection of one objective lens corresponding to the dimple.
  • the user of the hardness testing apparatus is not required to select one objective lens by user's experience or acknowledge in the hardness test, and the user is not required to set one objective lens corresponding to the dimple by himself or herself. Accordingly, even a person insufficiently skilled in the hardness test can easily perform the hardness test.
  • the objective lens selection section selects one objective lens to display the largest image of the dimple on the display among images based on the objective lenses.
  • the objective lens selection section selects one objective lens to display the largest image of the dimple on the display among images based on the objective lenses, the user can easily grasp features of the dimple.
  • a hardness testing apparatus for example, hardness testing apparatus 602
  • a test force applying section for example, arm driver 404
  • a predetermined test force at which an indenter is pushed for example, intender 405
  • a surface of a sample for example sample S
  • a plurality of object lenses for example, object lenses 407 to display an enlarged image of a dimple formed on the surface of the sample by the indenter on a display (for example, display 416) and measures a hardness of the sample according to the dimple
  • the information relating to the size of the dimple indicates information of the size of the dimple required to observe the dimple by an objective lens having a comparatively high magnification with high accuracy, information of the size of the dimple required to observe inside of the dimple at top priority by an objective lens having a comparatively low magnification, or the like.
  • the user inputs a hardness of the sample assumed by the user to the assumed hardness input section, and the user inputs information relating to a size of the dimple to the dimple information input section.
  • the objective lens selection section selects one objective lens to be used for observation of the dimple according to the information relating to the size of the dimple inputted by the dimple information input section, and the test force calculation section calculates a test force, at which the intender is pushed to the surface of the sample, according to the hardness of the sample inputted by the assumed hardness input section and a magnification of the objective lens selected by the objective lens selection section.
  • the hardness testing apparatus selects the magnification of the objective lens to be used for observation of the dimple and calculates the test force required for formation of the dimple. Accordingly, the user is not required to set the test force by user's experience, and an accurate test force corresponding to the hardness of the sample assumed by the user can be set.
  • a hardness testing apparatus for example, hardness testing apparatus 602
  • a test force applying section for example, arm driver 404
  • a predetermined test force at which an indenter is pushed for example, intender 405
  • a surface of a sample for example sample S
  • a plurality of object lenses for example, object lenses 407 to display an enlarged image of a dimple formed on the surface of the sample by the indenter on a display (for example, display 416) and measures a hardness of the sample according to the dimple
  • the user inputs a hardness of the sample assumed by the user to the assumed hardness input section, and the objective lens selection section selects one objective lens to be used for observation of the dimple.
  • the recognition section recognizes a magnification of the objective lens selected by the objective lens selection section, and the test force calculation section calculates a test force, at which the intender is pushed to the surface of the sample, according to the hardness of the sample inputted by the assumed hardness input section and the magnification of the objective lens recognized by the recognition section.
  • the hardness testing apparatus calculates the test force required for formation of the dimple. Accordingly, the user is not required to set the test force by user's experience, and an accurate test force corresponding to the hardness of the sample assumed by the user can be set.
  • the display displays the test force calculated by the test force calculation section.
  • the same effect as that in the hardness testing apparatuses according to the eighth or ninth aspect is obtained. Further, because the display displays the test force calculated by the test force calculation section, the test force can be visually notified to the user, the hardness test can be easily performed, and it is convenient to record the test force.
  • the hardness testing apparatus further comprises:
  • the driving control section controls the driving section to move the intender after formation of the dimple and to move the selected objective lens above the dimple.
  • the hardness testing apparatus selects the objective lens to be used for observation of the dimple and calculates the test force required for formation of the dimple. Accordingly, the user is not required to set the test force by user's experience, and an accurate test force corresponding to the hardness of the sample assumed by the user can be set.
  • FIG. 1 is a side view in partial cross-section of a hardness testing apparatus.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main section of the hardness testing apparatus shown in FIG. 1.
  • a hardness testing apparatus 41 comprises an indenter shaft 2 having a top on which an indenter 1 is arranged to form a dimple in a sample S mounted on a sample stand 100, two supporting springs 3 connected to a testing apparatus body 75 and elastically supporting the upper and lower ends of the indenter shaft 2 respectively so as to function as an elastic supporting structure, a force motor 10 for applying a predetermined force to the indenter shaft 2 in an axial direction of the indenter shaft 2 to move the indenter shaft 2 in the axial direction, an indenter shaft displacement detection section 20 for detecting an amount of displacement of the indenter shaft 2, a vibration detection section 60 for detecting vibration acting on the indenter shaft 2 to function as an external force detection section, and a control section 70 for controlling operations of the constituent elements of the testing apparatus 41 described above.
  • the indenter 1 is used for dimple forming hardness tests such as Vickers hardness test, Knoop indenter hardness test, Brinell hardness test, Rockwell hardness test and the like.
  • each supporting spring 3 is fixed to the testing apparatus body 75, and the supporting spring 3 extends in the almost horizontal direction from the body 75.
  • the other ends of the supporting springs 3 are connected to the upper and lower ends of the indenter shaft 2 respectively.
  • the supporting springs 3 elastically supports the indenter shaft 2 to make the indenter shaft 2 be perpendicular to the sample stand 100.
  • the supporting springs 3 are warped and deformed so as to maintain the posture of the indenter shaft 2 perpendicular to the sample stand 100.
  • the force motor 10 comprises a magnetic circuit structure 12 and a driving coil 13 arranged on the side of the indenter shaft 2.
  • the force motor 10 generates a force in the magnetic circuit structure 12 by electromagnetic induction which is based on both a magnetic field induced in a gap by a magnet and a current flowing through the driving coil 13 arranged in the gap.
  • the force motor 10 uses the force as a driving force to move the indenter shaft 2 in its axial direction and to apply a predetermined force to the sample S through the indenter 1 arranged on the indenter shaft 2.
  • the force motor 10 generates an arbitral driving force according to an amount of current supplied to the driving coil 13, moves the indenter shaft 2 according to the driving force and applies various test forces to the sample S. Further, when the amount of current flowing through the driving coil 13 is adjusted in stepless, the force motor 10 can output one of stepless driving forces and apply one of stepless test forces to the sample S.
  • the current supplied from the force motor 10 to the driving coil 13 is controlled by the control section 70 described later.
  • the force motor 10 generates the driving force according to an amount of current (and/or a direction of the current) predetermined from the predetermined test force, moves the indenter shaft 2 and applies the predetermined test force to the sample S.
  • the indenter shaft displacement detection section 20 comprises a scale 21 having graduations at predetermined intervals and arranged on the indenter shaft 2 and a linear encoder 22 optically reading the graduations of the scale 21.
  • the section 20 detects an amount of displacement (for example, an amount of penetration of the indenter 1 pushed into the sample S) of the indenter shaft 2 when the indenter shaft 2 is moved to form a dimple in the sample S, and the section 20 outputs an indenter shaft displacement signal based on the amount of displacement to the control section 70.
  • the vibration detection section 60 detects vibration acting on the indenter shaft 2 from the outside of the hardness testing apparatus 41 as an external force and outputs a vibration detection signal based on the detected vibration to the control section 70.
  • the control section 70 comprises a central processing unit (CPU) 7a for performing various types calculations, a read only memory (ROM) 7b for storing various programs and various types data used for various types processing such as control, judgment and the like, and a random access memory (RAM) 7c used as a work memory for various types processing.
  • the control section 70 is connected to the force motor 10, the indenter shaft displacement detection section 20, the vibration detection section 60 and the like through a system bus, a driving circuit and the like.
  • the control section 70 executes a predetermined program stored in the ROM 7b, supplies an amount of current based on a predetermined test force, which is determined according to predetermined operational conditions (for example, an operational condition of the indenter shaft 2) preset to perform a predetermined hardness test, to the driving coil 13 of the force motor 10, drives the force motor 10 to move the indenter shaft 2 and performs an operational control to apply the predetermined test force to the sample S.
  • predetermined operational conditions for example, an operational condition of the indenter shaft 2 preset to perform a predetermined hardness test
  • control section 70 performs a control to calculate a hardness of the sample S according to data based on the dimple formed in the sample S, the test force applied for the formation of the dimple and a hardness calculation formula corresponding to a preset hardness test.
  • control section 70 further comprises a self-weight adjustment and control section 71, a vibration adjustment and control section 72 and a repulsion force adjustment and control section 73 which are embodied by software processing performed by co-operation of the CPU 7a and various processing programs stored in the ROM 7b.
  • the control section 70 performs adjustment and control to apply only a substantial force to the sample S.
  • the self-weight adjustment and control section 71 of the control section 70 performs a self-weight adjustment and control to adjust an amount of current flowing through the driving coil 13 of the force motor 10 according to data of the self-weight (mass, weight) of the indenter shaft 2 (and indenter 1) stored in the ROM 7b of the control section 70 so as to deaden a loading force based on the self-weight of the indenter shaft 2 and acting on the sample S.
  • the self-weight adjustment and control section 71 adjusts the amount of current flowing through the driving coil 13 according to the self-weight data of the indenter shaft 2 (and indenter 1) preset and the processing program so as to deaden the loading force based on the self-weight of the indenter shaft 2 and acting on the sample S, and the section 71 performs the adjustment and control to apply only a substantial test force to the sample S.
  • the vibration adjustment and control section 72 acting as an external force control section of the control section 70 performs a vibration adjustment and control to adjust the amount of current flowing through the driving coil 13 of the force motor 10 according to a vibration detection signal based on the vibration detected by the vibration detection section 60 so as to deaden influence of vibration (external force) applied from the outside and acting on the indenter shaft 2.
  • the vibration adjustment and control section 72 adjusts the amount of current flowing through the driving coil 13 according to the vibration (vibration detection signal) detected by the vibration detection section 60 and the condition (program) preset and stored in the ROM 7b of the control section 70 so as to reduce the force applied by the indenter shaft 2 to the sample S through the indenter 1.
  • the vibration adjustment and control section 72 adjusts the amount of current flowing through the driving coil 13 so as to increase the force applied by the indenter shaft 2 to the sample S through the indenter 1.
  • the vibration adjustment and control section 72 performs the adjustment and control to apply only the substantial test force to the sample S by adjusting the movement of the indenter shaft 2.
  • the repulsion adjustment and control section 73 of the control section 70 performs repulsion adjustment and control to deaden a repulsion force of the supporting springs 3, which acts in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the indenter shaft 2 due to the warp of the supporting springs 3 caused by the maintaining of the posture of the indenter shaft 2, in response to an indenter shaft displacement signal based on the movement of the indenter shaft 2 and detected by the indenter shaft displacement detection section 20.
  • the repulsion adjustment and control section 73 performs the adjustment and control according to the displacement of the indenter shaft 2 detected by the indenter shaft displacement detection section 20 and the condition (program) preset and stored in the ROM 7b of the control section 70 to apply only the substantial test force to the sample S by adjusting both the amount of current flowing through the driving coil 13 and the movement of the indenter shaft 2 so as to increase the force applied by the indenter shaft 2 to the sample S through the indenter 1 for the purpose of deadening the repulsion force generated due to the warp and deformation of the supporting springs 3.
  • control section 70 (self-weight adjustment and control section 71, vibration adjustment and control section 72 and repulsion force adjustment and control section 73) adjusts the movement of the indenter shaft 2 by adjusting the amount of current flowing through the driving coil 13 of the force motor 10 so as to cancel the external force and the like applied to the indenter shaft 2, and the section 70 adjusts the force applied by the indenter shaft 2 to the sample S through the indenter 1. Therefore, the section 70 adjusts to apply only the substantial test force to the sample S.
  • control section 70 supplies an amount of current corresponding to the predetermined test force to the driving coils 13 and 33 of the force motors 10 and 30 and controls the force motor 10 to generate the driving force. Further, the control section 70 performs the adjustment and control (self-weight adjustment and control section 71, vibration adjustment and control section 72 and repulsion force adjustment and control section 73) to apply only the substantial test force to the sample S.
  • the force motor 10 moves the indenter shaft 2 toward the sample S arranged below the indenter shaft 2 in the axial direction of the indenter shaft 2 to apply the predetermined force (test force) to the sample S through the indenter 1 of the indenter shaft 2 to form a dimple.
  • the hardness testing apparatus 41 calculates a hardness of the sample S according to the shape (size (length between predetermined positions), depth) of the dimple, the test force by using a hardness calculation formula corresponding to the hardness test and preset and stored in the ROM 7b of the control section 70.
  • the hardness testing apparatus 41 of this embodiment uses the force motor 10 to drive the indenter shaft 2, the indenter shaft 2 is moved to apply a stepless test force to the sample S through the indenter 1 by adjusting the amount of current supplied to (the driving coil 13 of) the force motor 10 in stepless. Therefore, the hardness testing apparatus 41 can perform the hardness test at a desired optional test force (driving force) within range of the output of the force motor 10. That is, the hardness testing apparatus 41 can perform the hardness test at various test forces.
  • control section 70 of the hardness testing apparatus 41 has the self-weight adjustment and control section 71, the vibration adjustment and control section 72 and the repulsion force adjustment and control section 73, the control section 70 can adjust the driving force output from the force motor 10 by adjusting the amount of current supplied to the force motor 10 (driving coil 13) so as to cancel the external force and the like acting on the indenter shaft 2, and the control section 70 can perform the adjustment and control to make the indenter shaft 2 (indenter 1) apply only the substantial test force to the sample S. Accordingly, the hardness testing apparatus 41 can perform the hardness test based on a further accurate test force.
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 a hardness testing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.
  • the constituent elements indicated by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment. Therefore, the description of the constituent elements is omitted.
  • FIG. 3 is a side view in partial cross-section of a hardness testing apparatus.
  • FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a main section of the hardness testing apparatus shown in FIG. 3.
  • a hardness testing apparatus 42 comprises an indenter shaft unit 76 having the indenter shaft 2 and a pushing force applying mechanism 77 for applying a predetermined pushing force to the indenter shaft 2.
  • the indenter shaft 2 has an indenter 1 at the top thereof to form a dimple in the sample S mounted on the sample stand 100.
  • the indenter shaft unit 76 comprises the supporting springs 3 arranged on the testing apparatus body 75 and acting as an elastic supporting structure, the indenter shaft 2 of which the upper and lower ends are elastically supported by the supporting springs 3 respectively, the force motor 10 acting as a first load applying mechanism for applying a predetermined force to the indenter shaft 2 in an axial direction of the indenter shaft 2 to move the indenter shaft 2 in the axial direction, and the indenter shaft displacement detection section 20 for detecting displacement of the indenter shaft 2.
  • the force motor 10 can apply various test forces (predetermined test force, force within range of first test force) to the sample S by generating an optional driving force according to an amount of current supplied to the driving coil 13 of the force motor 10 and moving the indenter shaft 2 according to the driving force.
  • the pushing force applying mechanism 77 comprises a force motor 30 arranged on the upper side of the indenter shaft unit 76 and acting as a second load applying mechanism, and two supporting springs 4 elastically supporting a load shaft 31 of the force motor 30 on the testing apparatus body 75.
  • each supporting spring 4 is fixed to the testing apparatus body 75, and the supporting spring 4 extends in the almost horizontal direction from the body 75.
  • the other ends of the supporting springs 4 are connected to the upper and lower ends of the load shaft 31 of the force motor 30 respectively, as described later.
  • the supporting springs 4 elastically supports the load shaft 31 coaxially with the indenter shaft 2 and perpendicularly to the sample stand 100.
  • the supporting springs 4 are warped so as to maintain the posture of the load shaft 31 perpendicular to the sample stand 100.
  • the force motor 30 comprises a magnetic circuit structure 32 and a driving coil 33 acting as a pressing member and arranged on the side of the load shaft 31.
  • the force motor 30 generates a force in the magnetic circuit structure 32 by the electromagnetic induction which is based on both a magnetic field induced in a gap by a magnet and a current flowing through the driving coil 33 arranged in the gap.
  • the force motor 30 uses the force as a driving force to move the load shaft 31 in its axial direction and applies a pressing force to the indenter shaft 2 to move the indenter shaft 2 in its axial direction. Thereafter, the force motor 30 applies a predetermined force (second test force) to the sample S through the indenter shaft 2.
  • the force motor 10 can apply various test forces (forces within range of second test force) to the sample S by generating an optional driving force according to an amount of current supplied to the driving coil 13 and moving the indenter shaft 2 according to the driving force. Further, when the force motor 10 adjusts the amount of current flowing through the driving coil 13 in stepless, the force motor 10 can output one of stepless driving forces and apply one of stepless test forces (second test force) to the sample S.
  • the current supplied from the force motor 30 to the driving coil 33 is controlled by the control section 70.
  • the force motor 30 generates the driving force according to an amount of current (and/or a direction of current) predetermined from the predetermined test force, moves the indenter shaft 2 and applies the predetermined test force to the sample S.
  • the hardness testing apparatus 42 described above has a control section 70 shown in FIG. 4, and the control section 70 is connected to the force motor 10, the force motor 30, the indenter shaft displacement detection section 20, the vibration detection section 60 and the like through a system bus, a driving circuit and the like. Further, the control section 70 has the self-weight adjustment and control section 71, the vibration adjustment and control section 72 and the repulsion force adjustment and control section 73 to be embodied by the cooperation of the CPU 7a with various processing programs stored in the ROM 7b in software processing.
  • the control section 70 When a test operation signal indicating the performance of the operation of the hardness test is input to in an operation section (not shown), the control section 70 performs an operational control by executing a predetermined program stored in the ROM 7b, supplies an amount of current based on a predetermined test force, which is determined according to predetermined operational conditions (for example, operational condition of indenter shaft 2) preset to perform a predetermined hardness test, to the driving coils 13 and 33 of the force motors 10 and 30, drives the force motors 10 and 30 to move the indenter shaft 2 and applies the predetermined test force to the sample S.
  • predetermined operational conditions for example, operational condition of indenter shaft 2 preset to perform a predetermined hardness test
  • control section 70 (self-weight adjustment and control section 71, vibration adjustment and control section 72 and repulsion force adjustment and control section 73) adjusts the movement of the indenter shaft 2 by adjusting the amount of current flowing through the driving coils 13 and 33 so as to cancel the external force and the like acting on the indenter shaft 2, and the control section 70 performs the adjustment to make the indenter shaft 2 apply only the substantial test force to the sample S.
  • control section 70 supplies an amount of current corresponding to the predetermined test force to the driving coils 13 and 33 of the force motors 10 and 30 and controls the force motors 10 and 30 to generate driving forces. Further, the control section 70 performs the adjustment and control (self-weight adjustment and control section 71, vibration adjustment and control section 72 and repulsion force adjustment and control section 73) to apply only the substantial test force to the sample S.
  • the force motor 10 moves the indenter shaft 2 downward in the axial direction of the indenter shaft 2 to apply the predetermined force (first test force) to the sample S through the indenter 1 of the indenter shaft 2.
  • the force motor 30 applied a pushing force to the indenter shaft 2 by moving the load shaft 31 downward in the axial direction of the load shaft 31 to make the lower end 31a of the load shaft 31 push down the upper end 2a of the indenter shaft 2 and to move the indenter shaft 2 downward in the axial direction of the indenter shaft 2. Thereafter, the force motor 30 applies the predetermined force (second test force) to the sample S through the indenter 1 of the indenter shaft 2.
  • the hardness testing apparatus 42 forms a dimple at the test force which is obtained by combining the predetermined force (first test force) applied to the sample S by the force motor 10 and the predetermined force (second test force) applied to the sample S by the force motor 30.
  • the hardness testing apparatus 42 calculates a hardness of the sample S according to the shape (size (length between predetermined positions), depth) of the dimple, the test force by using a hardness calculation formula corresponding to the hardness test and preset and stored in the ROM 7b of the control section 70.
  • the hardness testing apparatus 42 of this embodiment uses the force motors 10 and 30 to drive the indenter shaft 2, the indenter shaft 2 is moved to apply a stepless test force to the sample S through the indenter 1 by adjusting the amount of current supplied to (the driving coils 13 and 33 of) the force motors 10 and 30 in stepless. Therefore, the hardness testing apparatus 42 can perform the hardness test at a desired optional test force (driving force) within range of the outputs of the force motors 10 and 30. That is, the hardness testing apparatus 42 can perform the hardness test at various test forces in wide range.
  • control section 70 of the hardness testing apparatus 42 has the self-weight adjustment and control section 71, the vibration adjustment and control section 72 and the repulsion force adjustment and control section 73
  • the control section 70 can adjust the driving forces output from the force motors 10 and 30 by adjusting the amount of current supplied to the force motors 10 and 30 (driving coils 13 and 33) so as to cancel the external force and the like acting on the indenter shaft 2, and the control section 70 can perform the adjustment and control to make the indenter shaft 2 (indenter 1) apply only the substantial test force to the sample S. Accordingly, the hardness testing apparatus 42 can perform the hardness test based on the further correct test force.
  • the hardness testing apparatus 42 can adjust the output test force (driving force) by adjusting the amount of current supplied to the force motors 10 and 30, the moving speed of the indenter shaft 2 (indenter 1) moving toward the sample S and the duration of the applying of the test force from the indenter 1 arranged on the indenter shaft 2 to the sample S can be selected and adjusted.
  • the hardness testing apparatus 42 can perform the hardness test at the test force which is obtained by combining the test force (driving force) based on the force motor 10 and the test force (driving force) based on the force motor 30. Accordingly, the hardness testing apparatus 42 can perform the hardness test at the test force which is obtained by combining the test forces (driving force) output from the force motors 10 and 30 respectively. That is, the hardness testing apparatus 42 can perform the hardness test by various test forces in further wide range.
  • test force (driving force) output from the force motor 30 is the almost same as that output from the force motor 10
  • the test force output by combining the forces of the force motors 10 and 30 can become almost twice as compared with that in the use of the single force motor.
  • the hardness testing apparatus 42 can output further changeable test forces in further wide range.
  • the hardness testing apparatus 42 adjusts the amount of current supplied to (the driving coils 13 and 33 of) the force motors 10 and 30 so as to balance the amount of current with a dead weight such as a known weight while weighting a load shaft (load shaft 31, indenter shaft 2) with the dead weight, the correlation of the amount of current and the driving force output from the force motors can be ascertained. Accordingly, because the driving force (test force) output from the force motors can be revised in the hardness testing apparatus 42, further accurate hardness test can be performed.
  • each of two force motors perform the output control and adjustment control of the test force to perform the hardness test at a predetermined test force in the hardness testing apparatus 42.
  • one force motor for example, force motor 30
  • the other force motor for example, force motor 10
  • FIGS. 5 and 6 a hardness testing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.
  • the constituent elements indicated by the same reference numerals as those in the first and second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment. Therefore, the description of the constituent elements is omitted.
  • FIG. 5 is a side view in partial cross-section of a hardness testing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a main section of the hardness testing apparatus shown in FIG. 5.
  • a hardness testing apparatus 43 comprises the indenter shaft unit 76 having the indenter shaft 2 and a pushing force applying mechanism 78 for applying a predetermined pushing force to the indenter shaft 2.
  • the pushing force applying mechanism 78 comprises a control lever 50 arranged above the indenter shaft unit 76 and acting as a pushing member, and the force motor 30 applying an action force to the control lever 50 and acting as a second force motor.
  • the control lever 50 is rotatably supported on a body (not shown) of the testing apparatus by a rotational shaft 51 at the almost center of the control lever 50.
  • the force motor 30 is attached to an end 50a of the control lever 50.
  • the control lever 50 extends from the rotational shaft 51 toward above the indenter shaft unit 76, and another end 50b of the control lever 50 is placed above the indenter shaft 2.
  • a pushing member 52 is arranged at the end 50b to push down the upper end 2a of the indenter shaft 2 of the indenter shaft unit 76.
  • a force generated in the magnetic circuit structure 32 by electromagnetic induction which is based on both a magnetic field induced in a gap by a magnet and a current flowing through the driving coil 33 arranged in the gap, is used as a driving force.
  • the force motor 30 moves the load shaft 31 in its axial direction by the driving force and applies an action force to the end 50a of the control lever 50 to rotate the control lever 50.
  • the force motor 30 makes the other end 50b of the control lever 50 incline downward and pushes down the indenter shaft 2 in its axial direction by the pushing member 52 arranged on the end 50b.
  • the hardness testing apparatus 43 described above has a control section 70 shown in FIG. 6, and the control section 70 is connected to the force motor 10, the force motor 30, the indenter shaft displacement detection section 20, the vibration detection section 60 and the like through a system bus, a driving circuit and the like. Further, the control section 70 has the self-weight adjustment and control section 71, the vibration adjustment and control section 72, the repulsion force adjustment and control section 73 and a center-of-mass adjustment and control section 74 to be embodied by cooperation of the CPU 7a with various processing programs stored in the ROM 7b in software processing.
  • the center-of-mass adjustment and control section 74 of the control section 70 performs the center-of-mass adjustment and control according to data of an amount of movement (amount of inclination) of the control lever 50 stored in the ROM 7b of the control section 70 to adjust an amount of current flowing through the driving coils 13 and 33 of the force motors 10 and 30 so as to deaden the influence (force) based on the self-weight of the control lever 50 acting on the indenter shaft 2 due to the movement of the center-of-mass of the control lever 50.
  • the center-of-mass adjustment and control section 74 adjust the amount of current flowing through the driving coils 13 and 33 to reduce the force applied by the indenter shaft 2 to the sample S through the indenter 1.
  • the center-of-mass adjustment and control section 74 adjust the amount of current flowing through the driving coils 13 and 33 to increase the force applied by the indenter shaft 2 to the sample S through the indenter 1. Therefore, the center-of-mass adjustment and control section 74 performs the adjustment and control to make the indenter shaft 2 apply only the substantial test force to the sample S by adjusting the movement of the indenter shaft 2.
  • the control section 70 When a test operational signal based on the performance of the operation of the hardness test is initially input to an operation section (not shown), the control section 70 performs operational control by executing a predetermined program stored in the ROM 7b according to a predetermined operational condition (for example, operational condition of the indenter shaft 2) preset to perform a predetermined hardness test to supply an amount of current corresponding to the predetermined test force to the driving coils 13 and 33 of the force motors 10 and 30, move the indenter shaft 2 by driving the force motors 10 and 30 and apply a predetermined test force to the sample S.
  • a predetermined operational condition for example, operational condition of the indenter shaft 2
  • a predetermined hardness test for example, operational condition of the indenter shaft 2 preset to perform a predetermined hardness test to supply an amount of current corresponding to the predetermined test force to the driving coils 13 and 33 of the force motors 10 and 30, move the indenter shaft 2 by driving the force motors 10 and 30 and apply a predetermined test force
  • control section 70 adjusts the movement of the indenter shaft 2 to deaden the external force acting on the indenter shaft 2 by adjusting the amount of current flowing through the driving coils 13 and 33 of the force motors 10 and 30 and performs the adjustment to make the indenter shaft 2 (or the indenter 1) apply only the substantial test force to the sample S.
  • control section 70 supplies an amount of current corresponding to the predetermined test force to the driving coils 13 and 33 of the force motors 10 and 30 and controls the force motors 10 and 30 to generate driving forces. Further, the control section 70 performs the adjustment and control (self-weight adjustment and control section 71, vibration adjustment and control section 72, repulsion force adjustment and control section 73 and center-of-mass adjustment and control section 74) to apply only the substantial test force to the sample S.
  • adjustment and control self-weight adjustment and control section 71, vibration adjustment and control section 72, repulsion force adjustment and control section 73 and center-of-mass adjustment and control section 74
  • the force motor 10 moves the indenter shaft 2 downward in the axial direction of the indenter shaft 2 to apply the predetermined force (first test force) to the sample S through the indenter 1 of the indenter shaft 2.
  • the force motor 30 rotates the control lever 50 to move the end 50a of the control lever 50 upward by moving the load shaft 31 in its axial direction. Thereafter, the force motor 30 makes the pushing member 52 arranged on the other end 50b of the control lever 50 push down the upper end 2a of the indenter shaft 2 by moving the other end 50b downward and move the indenter shaft 2, and the force motor 30 applies a predetermined force (second test force) to the sample S through the indenter 1 of the indenter shaft 2. That is, the force motor 30 applies the pressing force to the indenter shaft 2 through the control lever 50 and makes the indenter 1 of the indenter shaft 2 apply the pressing force to the sample S by moving the indenter shaft 2 downward in its axial direction.
  • a predetermined force second test force
  • the hardness testing apparatus 43 forms a dimple by the test force which is obtained by combining the predetermined force (first test force) applied to the sample S by the force motor 10 and the predetermined force (second test force) applied to the sample S by the force motor 30.
  • the hardness testing apparatus 43 calculates a hardness of the sample S according to the shape (size (length between predetermined positions), depth) of the dimple, the test force by using a hardness calculation formula corresponding to the hardness test and preset and stored in the ROM 7b of the control section 70.
  • the hardness testing apparatus 43 can perform the hardness test at the test force, which is obtained by combining the driving force based on the force motor 10 and the driving force based on the force motor 30, by using the force motors 10 and 30 to drive the indenter shaft 2. Accordingly, because the hardness testing apparatus 43 can perform the hardness test at the test force (driving force) which is obtained by combining the driving forces output from the force motors 10 and 30 respectively, the hardness testing apparatus 43 can perform the hardness test at various test forces in further wide range.
  • the driving force output from the force motor 30 is transmitted through the control lever 50 rotated on the rotational shaft 51, even in case of a small driving force, the driving force can be applied to the intender shaft 2 as a larger test force (pressing force) by using so-called "principle of lever".
  • each hardness testing apparatus can apply the stepless test force to the sample S through the indenter 1 of the indenter shaft 2 by adjusting the amount of current supplied to (the driving coil(s) of) the force motor(s). Accordingly, the hardness testing apparatuses 41, 42 and 43 can perform the hardness test at the desired optional test force according to the adjustable test force in stepless within range of the output(s) of the force motor(s). That is, the hardness testing apparatuses 41, 42 and 43 can perform the hardness test at various test forces.
  • control section 70 of each hardness testing apparatus has adjustment and control sections such as the self-weight adjustment and control section 71, the vibration adjustment and control section 72, the repulsion force adjustment and control section 73, the center-of-mass adjustment and control section 74 and the like, when the control section 70 adjusts the driving forces output from the force motors 10 and 30 so as to deaden the external force and the like acting on the indenter shaft 2, the control section 70 can perform the adjustment and control to adjust the amount of current supplied to the force motors 10 and 30 (driving coils 13 and 33) and to make the indenter shaft 2 (indenter 1) apply only the substantial test force to the sample S. Accordingly, the hardness testing apparatuses 41, 42 and 43 can perform the hardness test based on the further correct test force.
  • the hardness testing apparatuses 42 and 43 can perform the hardness test based on the test force, which is obtained by combining the test force based on the force motor 10 and the test force based on the force motor 30, by using the tow force motors 10 and 30. Accordingly, the hardness testing apparatuses 42 and 43 can perform the hardness test obtained by combining the test forces (first test force, second test force) output from two force motors and can perform the hardness test at various test forces in further wide range.
  • the indenter shaft 2 is moved by using the force motor(s).
  • the hardness testing apparatus is not limited to this.
  • a load applying mechanism acting as the force motor(s) may be arranged on condition that the stepless load or test force applied to the sample S by moving the indenter shaft 2 is adjustable.
  • the self-weight adjustment and control section 71, the vibration adjustment and control section 72, the repulsion force adjustment and control section 73 and the center-of-mass adjustment and control section 74 are embodied by the cooperation of the CPU 7a with various processing programs stored in the ROM 7b in software processing.
  • the adjustment and control sections 71 to 74 may be embodied by private hardware which is operated under control of the CPU 7a so as to perform the function of the processing programs.
  • FIG. 7 is a side view showing a main part of a hardness testing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 8 is a plan view seen from line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7.
  • a hardness testing apparatus 44 comprises a testing apparatus body 102 having an indenter shaft attaching member 121, an indenter shaft 104 changeably having an indenter 103 at the top (lower end) of the shaft 104, a supporting structure 105 for elastically supporting the indenter shaft 104 to be movably in its axial direction and to be attached to the indenter shaft attaching member 121 of the testing apparatus body 102, a load applying mechanism 106 for applying a predetermined force to the indenter shaft 104 in its axial direction, and the sample stand 100 having a mounting surface 107 for mounting the sample S.
  • the supporting structure 105 comprises two upper and lower folding springs 151 (151a, 151b) for connecting the indenter shaft attaching member 121 to the indenter shaft 104 at upper and lower ends of the indenter shaft 104 respectively, and a connecting member 152 connecting the folding springs 151 to each other.
  • each folding spring 151 comprises a middle plate spring 153 extending to the left of the drawing to have an end 1531 on the left and acting as a first elastic member, and two outer plate springs 154 arranged on both sides of the middle plate spring 153 (upper and lower sides of the middle plate spring 153 in the drawing), extending to the left of the drawing to have an end 1541 on the left and acting as a second elastic member.
  • Another end 1532 of the middle plate spring 153 is integrally connected to other ends 1542 of the outer plate springs 154 on the right of the drawing at a spring end 155 acting as a connecting portion.
  • the folding spring 151 is formed in E shape in plan view.
  • Width b (length in the vertical direction of the drawing) of the middle plate spring 153 is set to be almost twice of width a (length in the vertical direction of the drawing) of the outer plate spring 154. That is, length and thickness of the middle plate spring 153 are the almost same as those of each outer plate spring 154, and the width of the middle plate spring 153 is substantially the same as that of the combination of the outer plate springs 154. Therefore, spring constant of the middle plate spring 153 is the almost same as that of the combination of the outer plate springs 154.
  • the middle plate spring 153 of the folding spring 151 is inclined so as to place the end 1531 to the lower left of the spring 153 in the drawing.
  • the outer plate spring 154 of the folding spring 151 is inclined so as to place the end 1541 to the upper left of the spring 154 in the drawing.
  • the folding spring 151 is formed in almost V shape in side view.
  • the end 1531 of the middle plate spring 153 is fixed to the upper end of the indenter shaft 104 by bolts B, and the ends 1541 of the outer plate springs 154 are fixed to the upper surface of the indenter shaft attaching member 121 by bolts B.
  • the end 1531 of the middle plate spring 153 is fixed to a portion between the lower end of the indenter shaft 104 and the indenter 103 by bolts B, and the ends 1541 of the outer plate springs 154 are fixed to the lower surface of the indenter shaft attaching member 121 by bolts B.
  • the folding springs 151 adjacent to each other are connected to each other by the connecting member 152.
  • the connecting member 152 is made of non-magnetic conductor such as aluminum, cupper or the like. As shown in FIG. 7, the connecting member 152 is formed in almost U shape in side view.
  • the spring end 155 of the upper folding spring 151a is fixed to the upper end 152a of the connecting member 152 by bolts B, and the spring end 155 of the lower folding spring 151b is fixed to the lower end 152b of the connecting member 152 by bolts B.
  • the connecting member 152 connects the upper folding spring 151a and the lower folding spring 151b.
  • each folding spring 151 the other end 1532 of the middle plate spring 153 and the other ends 1542 of the outer plate springs 154 are connected to each other to have a supporting point by fixing the spring end 155 of the folding spring 151 to the upper or lower end 152a or 152b of the connecting member 152.
  • the indenter shaft 104 is attached to the testing apparatus body 102 (indenter shaft attaching member 121) through the folding springs 151 so as to make the axial direction of the indenter shaft 104 be perpendicular to the mounting surface 107 of the sample stand 100, and the indenter shaft 104 is elastically supported by the folding springs 151.
  • the connecting member 152 is arranged so as to make the extending direction of the connecting member 152 be parallel to the axial direction of the indenter shaft 104.
  • the load applying mechanism 106 is, for example, a force motor or the like.
  • the mechanism 106 uses a force, as a driving force, generated in a magnetic circuit structure (not shown) of the force motor by electromagnetic induction which is based on both a magnetic field induced in a gap by a magnet and a current flowing through a driving coil arranged in the gap.
  • the mechanism 106 applies a predetermined force (load) to the indenter shaft 104 by moving a load shaft 161 of the load applying mechanism 106 in its axial direction.
  • the sample S is initially mounted on the mounting surface 107 of the sample stand 100, and an operational section (not shown) is operated to perform the hardness test of the hardness testing apparatus 44. Thereafter, a control section (not shown) supplies a predetermined amount of current to the load applying mechanism 106 according to the input to the operational section, and the load applying mechanism 106 is operated.
  • the load shaft 161 is moved downward according to the operation of the load applying mechanism 106, and the load applying mechanism 106 (load shaft 161) applies a predetermined force (load) to the indenter shaft 104 to move the indenter shaft 104 in its axial direction.
  • the indenter shaft 104 is moved downward while deforming the folding springs 151 of the supporting structure 105, pushes the indenter 103 to the surface of the sample S at the predetermined force (load) and forms a dimple.
  • the apparatus 44 performs the test of measuring a hardness of the sample S, for example, Vickers hardness test according to the dimple formed by the indenter 103 (indenter shaft 104) in the sample S.
  • the load applying mechanism 106 applies the predetermined force (load) F to the indenter shaft 104
  • the indenter shaft 104 is moved downward.
  • the middle plate springs 153 of which the ends 1531 are fixed to the indenter shaft 104, are elastically deformed and warped due to the movement of the indenter shaft 104.
  • the middle plate springs 153 Due to the elastic deformation of the middle plate springs 153, a Y-axis directional moment parallel to the axial direction of the indenter shaft 104 and an X-axis directional moment perpendicular to the Y-axis are generated. As shown in FIG. 9B, the Y-axis directional moment in the middle plate springs 153 acts to move the indenter shaft 104 in its axial direction (Y-axis direction) (refer to arrow Y1 in FIG. 9B).
  • the X-axis directional moment in the middle plate springs 153 acts to move the indenter shaft 104 fixed to the ends 1531 of the middle plate springs 153 to the side of the other ends 1532 (connecting member 152) of the middle plate springs 153 (refer to arrow X1 in FIG. 9B).
  • the outer plate springs 154 are also elastically deformed, and an X-axis directional moment and a Y-axis directional moment are generated in the outer plate springs 154. As shown in FIG. 9B, the Y-axis directional moment in the outer plate springs 154 acts to move the connecting member 152 downward (Y-axis direction) (refer to arrow Y2 in FIG.
  • the ends 1541 of the outer plate springs 154 are fixed to the testing apparatus body 102 (indenter shaft attaching member 121), the X-axis directional moment generated by the elastic deformation of the outer plate springs 154 acts to draw the ends 1542 (connecting member 152) toward the testing apparatus body 102.
  • the spring constant of the middle plate spring 153 is the almost same as that of the combination of the two outer plate springs 154, the elastic deformation of the middle plate spring 153 due to the moments caused by the movement of the indenter shaft 104 is similar to that of the combination of the outer plate springs 154. That is, as shown in FIG.
  • the middle plate spring 153 having the end 1531 placed at the lower position is symmetric with the outer plate spring 154 having the other end 1542 placed at the lower position with respect to a central line between the plate springs 153 and 154 in side view, and the amount of displacement of the middle plate spring 153 in the X-axis direction and the amount of displacement of the middle plate spring 153 in the Y-axis direction are the same as those of the outer plate springs 154.
  • the apparatus 44 has the configuration that the indenter shaft 104 is not moved in the X-axis direction but is selectively moved in the Y-axis direction by relatively moving the supporting structure 105 (connecting member 152) to the side of the indenter shaft 104.
  • the other ends 1542 of the outer plate springs 154 are connected to the other ends 1532 of the middle plate springs 153 of which the ends 1531 are connected to the indenter shaft 104. Therefore, the displacement of the indenter shaft 104 to the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the indenter shaft 104 due to the warp of the two outer plate springs 154 can cancel out that due to the warp of the middle plate spring 153. Therefore, the indenter 103 of the indenter shaft 104 can be pushed to the surface of the sample S in the axial direction of the indenter shaft 104. Accordingly, a further accurate dimple can be formed on the surface of the sample S by the indenter 103, and the measuring test of the hardness of the sample S can be performed with further accuracy.
  • the folding springs 151 are elastically connected to the upper and lower ends of the indenter shaft 104 and the testing apparatus body 102 (indenter shaft attaching member 121) through the middle plate springs 153 and the outer plate springs 154, and the upper and lower folding springs 151 are connected to each other through the connecting member 152 of which the axial direction is parallel to that of the indenter shaft 104.
  • the connecting member 152 connecting the indenter shaft 104 and the testing apparatus body 102 are connected to each other through the connecting member 152 of which the axial direction is parallel to that of the indenter shaft 104, the inclination of the shaft axis of the indenter shaft 104 can be easily prevented.
  • the indenter shaft 104 when the indenter shaft 104 is moved in its axial direction, the axial direction can be easily maintained to be perpendicular to the mounting surface 107 of the sample stand 100, the shaft axis of the indenter shaft 104 is hardly displaced, and the dimple can be formed with further accuracy.
  • the spring constant and the warp can be easily adjusted. Accordingly, when the shape of the middle plate spring 153 is set to be substantially the same as that of the two outer plate springs 154, the spring constant and the warp in the middle plate spring 153 can be adjusted to be the almost same as that in the two outer plate springs 154.
  • FIG. 10 is a side view showing a main part of a hardness testing apparatus according to the first modification.
  • a hardness testing apparatus 45 comprises the testing apparatus body 102 having the indenter shaft attaching member 121, the indenter shaft 104 changeably having the indenter 103 at the top (lower end) of the shaft 104, a supporting structure 115 for elastically supporting the indenter shaft 104 to be movably in its axial direction and to be attached to the indenter shaft attaching member 121 of the testing apparatus body 102, the load applying mechanism 106 for applying a predetermined force to the indenter shaft 104 in its axial direction, and the sample stand 100 having the mounting surface 107 for mounting the sample S.
  • the supporting structure 115 comprises a plate spring 113 acting as a first elastic member, a plate spring 114 acting as a second elastic member, and a connecting member 112.
  • An end 1131 of the plate spring 113 is fixed to a portion between the lower end of the indenter shaft 104 and the indenter 103 through a fixed plate 108 by bolts B.
  • An end 1141 of the plate spring 114 is fixed to the upper surface of the indenter shaft attaching member 121 by bolts B.
  • the connecting member 112 connects another end 1132 of the plate spring 113 and another end 1142 of the plate spring 114.
  • the shape and spring constant of the plate spring 113 are substantially the same as those of the plate spring 114.
  • the connecting member 112 is formed in almost U shape in side view.
  • the end 1142 of the plate spring 114 is fixed to an upper end 112a of the connecting member 112 by bolts B, and the end 1132 of the plate spring 113 is fixed to a lower end 112b of the connecting member 112 by bolts B.
  • the connecting member 112 connects the plate spring 113 and the plate spring 114.
  • the indenter shaft 104 is attached to the testing apparatus body 102 (indenter shaft attaching member 121) through the supporting structure 115 so as to set the axial direction of the indenter shaft 104 perpendicular to the mounting surface 107 of the sample stand 100, and the indenter shaft 104 is elastically supported by the supporting structure 115.
  • the connecting member 112 is arranged to make the extending direction of the connecting member 112 be parallel to the axial direction (shaft axis) of the indenter shaft 104.
  • the load applying mechanism 106 applies a predetermined force (load) to the indenter shaft 104, and the indenter shaft 104 is moved downward.
  • the plate spring 113 of which the end 1131 is fixed to the indenter shaft 104, is elastically deformed and warped due to the movement of the indenter shaft 104.
  • the moment caused by the warp of the plate spring 113 is transmitted to the plate spring 114 through the connecting member 112, and the plate spring 114 is also elastically deformed.
  • the plate springs 113 and 114 are elastically deformed in the same manner as the middle plate spring 153 and the outer plate spring 154 so as to make the deformed shapes of the plate springs 113 and 114 in side view be similar to and symmetric with each other with respect to a central line of the plate springs 113 and 114.
  • An amount of displacement caused by the elastic deformation of the plate spring 113 in the X-axis direction is the almost same as that in the plate spring 114, and the direction of the displacement in the plate spring 113 is opposite to that in the plate spring 114.
  • the displacements of the plate springs 113 and 114 in the X-axis direction are canceled out each other. Because the movement of the indenter shaft 104 in the X-axis direction is prevented, the indenter shaft 104 is moved in the Y-axis direction according to the displacements caused in the Y-axis direction by the deformation of the plate springs 113 and 114. That is, the apparatus 45 has the configuration that the indenter shaft 104 is not moved in the X-axis direction but is selectively moved in the Y-axis direction by relatively moving the supporting structure 115 (connecting member 112) to the side of the indenter shaft 104.
  • the indenter 103 of the indenter shaft 104 can be pushed to the surface of the sample S in the direction of the indenter shaft 104. Accordingly, a dimple can be formed on the surface of the sample S by the indenter 103 with further accuracy, and the measuring test of the hardness of the sample S can be performed with further accuracy.
  • the second modification of the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 11.
  • the constituent elements indicated by the same reference numerals as those in the fourth embodiment are the same as those in the fourth embodiment. Therefore, the description of the constituent elements is omitted.
  • FIG. 11 is a side view showing a main part of a hardness testing apparatus according to the second modification.
  • a hardness testing apparatus 46 comprises a testing apparatus body 202 having an indenter shaft attaching member 221, the indenter shaft 104 changeably having the indenter 103 at the top (lower end) of the shaft 104, a supporting structure 205 elastically supporting the indenter shaft 104 to be movably in its axial direction and to be attached to the indenter shaft attaching member 221 of the testing apparatus body 202, the load applying mechanism 106 for applying a predetermined force to the indenter shaft 104 in its axial direction, and the sample stand 100 having the mounting surface 107 for mounting the sample S.
  • the supporting structure 205 comprises a plate spring 213 acting as a first elastic member, a plate spring 223 acting as the first elastic member, a plate spring 214 acting as a second elastic member, a plate spring 224 acting as the second elastic member, a connecting member 212 and a connecting member 222.
  • An end 2131 of the plate spring 213 is fixed to the upper end of the indenter shaft 104 through one fixed plate 108 by bolts B.
  • An end 2231 of the plate spring 223 is fixed to a portion between the lower end of the indenter shaft 104 and the indenter 103 through the other fixed plate 108 by bolts B.
  • An end 2141 of the plate spring 214 is fixed to the upper surface of the indenter shaft attaching member 221 by bolts B.
  • An end 2241 of the plate spring 224 is fixed to the lower surface of the indenter shaft attaching member 221 by bolts B.
  • the connecting member 212 connects another end 2132 of the plate spring 213 and another end 2142 of the plate spring 214.
  • the connecting member 222 connects another end 2232 of the plate spring 223 and another end 2242 of the plate spring 224.
  • the plate springs 213, 214, 223 and 224 substantially have the same shape and spring constant as one another.
  • each of the connecting members 212 and 222 is formed in almost U shape in side view.
  • the other end 2142 of the plate spring 214 is fixed to an upper end 212a of the connecting member 212 by the bolts B, and the other end 2132 of the plate spring 213 is fixed to a lower end 212b of the connecting member 212 by the bolts B.
  • the connecting member 212 connects the plate springs 213 and 214.
  • the other end 2242 of the plate spring 224 is fixed to an upper end 222a of the connecting member 222 by the bolts B, and the other end 2232 of the plate spring 223 is fixed to a lower end 222b of the connecting member 222 by the bolts B.
  • the connecting member 222 connects the plate springs 223 and 224.
  • the indenter shaft 104 is attached to the testing apparatus body 202 (indenter shaft attaching member 221) through the supporting structure 205 so as to set the axial direction of the indenter shaft 104 perpendicular to the mounting surface 107 of the sample stand 100, and the indenter shaft 104 is elastically supported by the supporting structure 205.
  • the connecting members 212 and 222 are arranged to make the extending direction of the connecting members 212 and 222 be parallel to the axial direction (shaft axis) of the indenter shaft 104.
  • the load applying mechanism 106 applies a predetermined force (load) to the indenter shaft 104, and the indenter shaft 104 is moved downward.
  • the plate springs 213 and 223, of which the ends 2131 and 2231 are fixed to the indenter shaft 104, are elastically deformed and warped due to the movement of the indenter shaft 104.
  • the moment caused by the warp of the plate springs 213 and 223 is transmitted to the plate springs 214 and 224 through the connecting members 212 and 222, and the plate springs 214 and 224 are also elastically deformed.
  • the plate springs 213, 214, 223 and 224 substantially have the same shape and spring constant as one another, in the same manner as the plate springs 153 and 154, the plate springs 213 and 214 are elastically deformed so as to make the deformed shapes of the plate springs 213 and 214 in side view be similar to and symmetric with each other, and the plate springs 223 and 224 are elastically deformed so as to make the deformed shapes of the plate springs 223 and 224 in side view be similar to and symmetric with each other. Amounts of displacement caused by the elastic deformation of the plate springs 213 and 214 in the X-axis direction are the almost same as each other, and directions of the displacement in the plate springs 213 and 214 are opposite to each other.
  • Amounts of displacement caused by the elastic deformation of the plate springs 223 and 224 in the X-axis direction are the almost same as each other, and directions of the displacement in the plate springs 223 and 224 are opposite to each other. Therefore, the displacements of the plate springs 213 and 214 in the X-axis direction are canceled out each other, and the displacements of the plate springs 223 and 224 in the X-axis direction are canceled out each other. In this case, the movement of the indenter shaft 104 in the X-axis direction is prevented, and the indenter shaft 104 is moved in the Y-axis direction.
  • the apparatus 46 has the configuration that the indenter shaft 104 is not moved in the X-axis direction but is selectively moved in the Y-axis direction by relatively moving the supporting structure 205 (connecting members 212 and 222) to the side of the indenter shaft 104.
  • the indenter 103 of the indenter shaft 104 can be pushed to the surface of the sample S in the axial direction of the indenter shaft 104. Accordingly, a dimple can be formed on the surface of the sample S by the indenter 103 with further accuracy, and the measuring test of the hardness of the sample S can be performed with further accuracy.
  • the supporting structure 205 becomes substantially the same as the supporting structure 105 of the hardness testing apparatus 44 of the fourth embodiment. That is, the hardness testing apparatus 46 becomes substantially the same as the hardness testing apparatus 44.
  • each of the supporting structures 105, 115 and 205 prevents the movement of the indenter shaft 104 perpendicular to its axial direction so as to selectively move the indenter shaft 104 in its axial direction. Therefore, the indenter 103 of the indenter shaft 104 can be pushed to the surface of the sample S in the direction of the indenter shaft 104. Accordingly, a dimple can be formed on the surface of the sample S by the indenter 103 with further accuracy, and the measuring test of the hardness of the sample S can be performed with further accuracy.
  • the force motor is used as the load applying mechanism 106.
  • the load applying mechanism 106 may have a mechanism in which load based on dead weights or the rotation of an arm (lever) driven by a servomotor is applied.
  • first and second elastic members may be structured on condition that the displacement and movement of the indenter shaft 104 in the X-axis direction due to the deformation of the first elastic member cancels out those in the second elastic member.
  • a guide member for guiding the movement of the indenter shaft 104 in its axial direction may be arranged to easily and selectively move the indenter shaft 104 in its axial direction. In this case, the shaft axis of the indenter shaft 104 is further hardly inclined.
  • the mechanism can be used.
  • the mechanism in addition to the use in the small displacement region, even though the warp of the plate springs and the stroke and displacement of the indenter shaft are large, the mechanism can be used and especially effective.
  • a hardness testing apparatus of the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 15.
  • FIG. 12 is a side view showing a main part of a hardness testing apparatus 47 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 13 is a perspective side view of the hardness testing apparatus 47 shown in FIG. 12.
  • FIG. 14 is a perspective side view showing the inside of a load applying mechanism and the inside of a connecting member in the hardness testing apparatus 47 shown in FIG. 12.
  • FIG. 15 is a sectional side view of the load applying mechanism.
  • the hardness testing apparatus 47 differs from the hardness testing apparatus 44 of FIG. 7 in that the hardness testing apparatus 47 further comprises two connecting member magnetic field inducing members 180 arranged to be opposite to each other through the connecting member 152.
  • Each connecting member magnetic field inducing member 180 comprises a permanent magnet 181 and a pair of yokes 182 arranged on both sides of the permanent magnet 181 and formed integrally with the permanent magnet 181.
  • the connecting member magnetic field inducing member 180 is formed in almost U shape in plan view.
  • each yoke 182 of the connecting member magnetic field inducing member 180 is bent toward the side of the connecting member 152 and is arranged to be apart from the connecting member 152.
  • the permanent magnet 181 is placed between the other ends of the yokes 182 and is supported and fixed by the yokes 182. Therefore, a magnetic field is induced by magnetic fluxes of the permanent magnet 181 concentrated and maximized in a predetermined direction by the yokes 182. That is, a portion of the connecting member 152 is arranged in the magnetic field.
  • the connecting member 152 is made of the non-magnetic conductor, no magnetic path is formed between the connecting member magnetic field inducing member 180 and the connecting member 152.
  • the connecting member 152 comprises a connecting member damping coil 190 wound inside the member 152, and a connecting member variable resistor 191 electrically connected to the connecting member damping coil 190.
  • the connecting member damping coil 190 is arranged in the magnetic field induced by the connecting member magnetic field inducing member 180. Therefore, when the connecting member 152 is vibrated with the vibration of the indenter shaft 104 at its characteristic frequency in the hardness test, an electromotive force is generated in the connecting member damping coil 190 arranged in the magnetic field in proportional to the speed of the vibration. Therefore, current flows through the connecting member damping coil 190, and an attenuation force acts on the connecting member 152 so as to attenuate the vibration of the connecting member 152.
  • the strength of the attenuation force can be adjusted by making the connecting member variable resistor 191 change a resistive value of the connecting member damping coil 190.
  • the connecting member damping coil 190 and the connecting member variable resistor 191 function as a connecting member attenuator.
  • the load applying mechanism 106 comprises a magnetic field inducing member 160 for inducing a magnetic field, a driving coil 162 arranged in the magnetic field induced by the magnetic field inducing member 160, a power supply (not shown) for supplying driving current to the driving coil 162, and a coil bobbin 163 having the driving coil 162 wound thereon and arranged movably in the upper and lower directions.
  • the magnetic field inducing member 160 is, for example, made of a permanent magnet. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the indenter shaft 104 penetrates through the center of the magnetic field inducing member 160 to be movable in the axial direction of the indenter shaft 104. A groove Ga for receiving the driving coil 162 is formed on the upper surface of the magnetic field inducing member 160.
  • the coil bobbin 163 has a bobbin of a predetermined width, and the driving coil 162 is wounded on the bobbin.
  • the coil bobbin 163 is tightly fitted to the upper end of the indenter shaft 104 and is arranged to place a portion of the driving coil 162 in the groove Ga of the magnetic field inducing member 160. Therefore, when the driving current is supplied to the driving coil 162 arranged in the magnetic field, a driving force is generated.
  • the coil bobbin 163 having the driving coil 162 wound thereon is moved downward by the driving force to press down the indenter shaft 104, and the coil bobbin 163 moves the indenter shaft 104 in its axial direction to apply a predetermined test force to the sample S through the indenter shaft 104. Therefore, the coil bobbin 163 functions as a pressing member for pressing the indenter shaft 104.
  • the coil bobbin 163 is made of conductor, and the portion of the coil bobbin 163 having the driving coil 162 wound thereon is placed in the magnetic field. Therefore, simultaneously with the generation of the driving force in the driving coil 162 of the coil bobbin 163, the attenuation force directed reversely to the moving direction of the coil bobbin 163 is generated in proportional to a moving speed of the coil bobbin 163. That is, for example, when the indenter shaft 104 is vibrated with vibration of disturbance, the coil bobbin 163 fixed to the indenter shaft 104 is also vibrated, and an electromotive force proportional to the speed of the vibration is generated in the coil bobbin 163 made of conductor. Therefore, current flows through the coil bobbin 163, the attenuation force is generated, and the vibration of the indenter shaft 104 is attenuated by the attenuation force.
  • a dumping coil 164 is wound on the coil bobbin 163 on the outside of the driving coil 162 to attenuate the vibration of the indenter shaft 104.
  • a variable resistor 165 is electrically connected to the dumping coil 164 to obtain the dumping coil 164 having a changeable resistive value. That is, for example, when the indenter shaft 104 is vibrated due to vibration of disturbance, an electromotive force proportional to the speed of the vibration of the indenter shaft 104 is generated in the dumping coil 164, current flows through the dumping coil 164, and the attenuation force for attenuating the vibration of the indenter shaft 104 is generated.
  • the strength of the attenuation force is changeable by making the variable resistor 165 change the resistive value of the dumping coil 164.
  • the coil bobbin 163, the dumping coil 164 and the variable resistor 165 function as the attenuator for attenuating the vibration of the indenter shaft 104.
  • the sample S is initially mounted on the mounting surface 107 of the sample stand 100, and an operational section (not shown) is operated to perform the hardness test of the hardness testing apparatus 47. Thereafter, a control section (not shown) supplies a predetermined amount of current to the driving coil 162 of the load applying mechanism 106 according to the input to the operational section, and the driving force is generated.
  • the driving force is generated in the driving coil 162
  • the coil bobbin 163 having the driving coil 162 wound thereon is moved downward to press down the indenter shaft 104, and the indenter shaft 104 is moved in its axial direction.
  • the middle plate springs 153 having the ends 1531 fixed to the indenter shaft 104 are elastically deformed and warped, and the outer plate springs 154 are elastically deformed and warped.
  • the spring motion caused by the warp of the outer plate springs 154 cancels out the spring motion caused by the warp of the middle plate springs 153. Therefore, the displacement of the shaft axis of the indenter shaft 104 in the direction perpendicular to its axial direction is prevented, and the indenter shaft 104 is moved in its axial direction. Thereafter, the indenter shaft 104 is moved downward while deforming the folding springs 151 and pushes the indenter 103 to the surface of the sample S at the predetermined force (load), and a dimple is formed.
  • a measuring test of a hardness of the sample S for example, a low hardness test is performed according to the dimple formed by the intender 103 (indenter shaft 104) in the sample S.
  • the indenter shaft 104 is vibrated at its characteristic frequency due to the driving force acting on the indenter shaft 104.
  • the attenuation force is generated in both the coil bobbin 163 of the load applying mechanism 106 and the dumping coil 164 wound on the coil bobbin 163, and the vibration of the indenter shaft 104 is attenuated by the attenuation force.
  • an attenuation force proportional to the vibration is generated in the connecting member damping coil 190 arranged in the connecting member 152, and the vibration of the connecting member 152 due to the vibration of the indenter shaft 104 is attenuated.
  • the resistive value of the dumping coil 164 or the connecting member damping coil 190 is changed by the variable resistor 165 or the connecting member variable resistor 191.
  • the indenter shaft 104 when the indenter shaft 104 is vibrated due to vibration of disturbance, the electromotive force is generated in the dumping coil 164 arranged in the magnetic field of the magnetic field inducing member 160, the current flows to generate the attenuation force, and the vibration of the indenter shaft 104 can be attenuated by the attenuation force.
  • the resistive value of the dumping coil 164 can be changed by the variable resistor 165 connected to the dumping coil 164, the attenuation force for attenuating the vibration of the indenter shaft 104 can be adjusted.
  • the electromotive force is generated in the coil bobbin 163 made of conductor and having the driving coil 162 thereon, and the current flows to generate the attenuation force. Accordingly, the vibration of the indenter shaft 104 can be further attenuated.
  • the spring ends 155 of the folding springs 151 adjacent to each other are connected to each other by the connecting member 152, the independent motion of the folding springs 151 can be prevented, and the indenter shaft 104 can be further straight moved in its axial direction.
  • the electromotive force is generated in the connecting member damping coil 190 arranged in the magnetic field of the connecting member magnetic field inducing member 180, the current flows to generate the attenuation force. Accordingly, the vibration of the connecting member 152 caused by the vibration of the indenter shaft 104 can be attenuated.
  • the resistive value of the connecting member damping coil 190 can be changed by the connecting member variable resistor 191 connected to the connecting member damping coil 190, the attenuation force for attenuating the vibration of the connecting member 152 caused by the vibration of the indenter shaft 104 can be adjusted.
  • the connecting member 152 made of non-magnetic conductor is arranged in the magnetic field induced by the connecting member magnetic field inducing member 180, the electromotive force is generated in the connecting member 152, and the current flows to generate the attenuation force. Accordingly, the vibration of the connecting member 152 caused by the vibration of the indenter shaft 104 can be attenuated.
  • vibration of an indenter shaft may be attenuated by using an attenuator (for example, dumping coil or coil bobbin) arranged in a load applying mechanism without arranging any connecting member attenuating member in a connecting member.
  • vibration of an indenter shaft may be attenuated by using a connecting member attenuating member (for example, connecting member dumping coil or the like) arranged in a connecting member without arranging any attenuator in a load applying mechanism.
  • the load applying mechanism may have a driving coil and a dumping coil wound as an attenuator on the outside of the driving coil without using any coil bobbin as the attenuator.
  • a coil bobbin may be used as the attenuator of the load applying mechanism without using any dumping coil.
  • a connecting member dumping coil may be used as a connecting member attenuator to use a connecting member made of non-conductor.
  • no connecting member dumping coil may be used as a connecting member attenuator to use a connecting member made of non-magnetic conductor.
  • a magnetic field inducing member arranged in the load applying mechanism may be made of an electromagnetic coil. In this case, current is supplied to the electromagnetic coil, and a magnetic field is induced.
  • the hardness testing apparatus of the present invention is applicable to Vickers hardness test and large stroke pushing-in test.
  • FIG. 16 is a side view showing a main part of a hardness testing apparatus 48 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 17 is a perspective side view of the hardness testing apparatus 48 of FIG. 16.
  • FIG. 18 is a plan view seen from line XVIII-XVIII of FIG. 16.
  • FIG. 19 is a side view of the main part of the hardness testing apparatus 48 in the hardness test.
  • FIG. 20 is a perspective side view of the main part of the hardness testing apparatus 48 of FIG. 19.
  • the hardness testing apparatus 48 comprises a testing apparatus body 302 having an indenter shaft attaching member 321, the indenter shaft 104 having the indenter 103 at the top (lower end) thereof, a supporting structure 305 elastically supporting the indenter shaft 104 to be movably in its axial direction and to be attached to the indenter shaft attaching member 321 of the testing apparatus body 302, the load applying mechanism 106, and the sample stand 100.
  • the supporting structure 305 comprises two folding springs 351 (351a, 351b) for connecting the indenter shaft attaching member 321 to the indenter shaft 104 at upper and lower ends of the indenter shaft 104 respectively, and a connecting member 352 connecting the upper and lower folding springs 351 to each other.
  • each folding spring 351 comprises a middle plate spring 353 extending to the left of the drawing to have an end 3531 on the left and acting as a first elastic member, and two outer plate springs 354 arranged on both sides of the middle plate spring 353 (upper and lower sides of the middle plate spring 353 in the drawing), extending to the left of the drawing to have an end 3541 on the left and acting as a second elastic member.
  • Another end 3532 of the middle plate spring 153 is integrally connected to other ends 3542 of the outer plate springs 354 on the right of the drawing at a spring end 355 acting as a connecting portion.
  • the folding springs 351 are structured. That is, length and thickness of the middle plate spring 353 are the almost same as those of each outer plate spring 354, and the width of the middle plate spring 353 is substantially the same as that of the combination of the outer plate springs 354. Therefore, spring constant of the middle plate spring 353 is the almost same as that of the combination of the outer plate springs 354.
  • Each folding spring 351 is, for example, made of beryllium cupper and is shaped in age hardening in a shape that the spring 351 is in advance warped in V shape in side view. That is, each middle plate spring 353 is warped so as to be projected upward and to have the end 3531 at an upper position, and each outer plate spring 354 is warped so as to be projected downward and to have the end 3541 at a lower position.
  • the folding springs 351 shaped as described above have non-linear elastic characteristic. That is, the smaller displacement of the plate springs 353 and 354 is, the larger the spring constant of the plate springs 353 and 354 is. The larger displacement of the plate springs 353 and 354 is, the smaller the spring constant of the plate springs 353 and 354 is.
  • the small displacement of the plate springs 353 and 354 indicates the condition that the folding springs 351 elastically support the indenter shaft 104 before the hardness test.
  • the large displacement of the plate springs 353 and 354 indicates the condition of the hardness test that the indenter shaft 104 is moved toward the sample S and the warped plate springs 353 and 354 of the folding springs 351 extend almost straight.
  • the middle plate springs 353 of the folding springs 351 are inclined so as to place those ends 3531 to upper left of the plate springs 353 in the drawing, and the outer plate springs 354 of the folding springs 351 are inclined so as to place those ends 3541 to lower left of the plate springs 354 in the drawing.
  • the ends 3531 of the middle plate springs 353 are fixed to the upper end of the indenter shaft 104 through the fixing plate 108 by bolts B, and the ends 3541 of the outer plate springs 354 are fixed to the upper surface of the indenter shaft attaching member 321 by bolts B.
  • the ends 3531 of the middle plate springs 353 are fixed to a portion between the lower end of the indenter shaft 104 and the indenter 103 through the fixing plate 108 by bolts B, and the ends 3541 of the outer plate springs 354 are fixed to the lower surface of the indenter shaft attaching member 321 by bolts B.
  • the folding springs 351 adjacent to each other are connected to each other by a connecting member 352.
  • the connecting member 352 is formed in U shape in side view.
  • the spring end 355 of the upper folding spring 151a is fixed to an upper end 352a of the connecting member 352 by bolts B
  • the spring end 355 of the lower folding spring 351b is fixed to a lower end 352b of the connecting member 352 by bolts B.
  • the connecting member 352 connects the upper folding spring 351a and the lower folding spring 351b.
  • each folding spring 351 the end 3532 of the middle plate spring 353 and the ends 3542 of the outer plate springs 354 are connected to each other to have a supporting point by fixing the spring end 355 of the folding spring 351 to the upper or lower end 352a or 352b of the connecting member 352.
  • the indenter shaft 104 is attached to the testing apparatus body 302 by the folding springs 351 so as to make the axial direction of the indenter shaft 104 be perpendicular to the mounting surface 107 of the sample stand 100, and the indenter shaft 104 is elastically supported by the folding springs 351.
  • the warped spring shapes of the middle plate springs 353 and the outer plate springs 354 of the folding springs 351 approaches straight spring shapes.
  • the middle plate springs 353 and the outer plate springs 354 extend in almost straight shape in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the indenter shaft 104. That is, the upper and lower folding springs 351 are elastically deformed in plane shape, and the plane surface of each folding spring 351 is placed in a plane extending in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the indenter shaft 104.
  • the indenter shaft 104 is attached to the testing apparatus body 302 (indenter shaft attaching member 321) by the folding springs 351 so as to make the axial direction of the indenter shaft 104 be perpendicular to the mounting surface 107 of the sample stand 100, and the indenter shaft 104 is elastically supported.
  • the connecting member 352 is arranged so as to make the extending direction of the connecting member 352 be parallel to the axial direction of the indenter shaft 104.
  • the sample S is initially mounted on the mounting surface 107 of the sample stand 100, and an operational section (not shown) is operated to perform the hardness test of the hardness testing apparatus 48. Thereafter, a control section (not shown) supplies a predetermined amount of current to a driving coil of the load applying mechanism 106 according to the input to the operational section, and a driving force is generated. Thereafter, when the driving force is generated in the driving coil, the load shaft 161 presses the indenter shaft 104 in its axial direction by the driving force, and the indenter shaft 104 is moved.
  • the indenter shaft 104 When the load applying mechanism 106 applies the test force to the indenter shaft 104, the indenter shaft 104 is moved toward the sample S. At this time, the spring motion caused by the displacement of the outer plate springs 354 of the folding springs 351 cancels out the spring motion caused by the displacement of the middle plate springs 353, and the displacement of the indenter shaft 104 in the direction perpendicular to its axial direction is prevented, and the indenter shaft 104 is moved in its axial direction.
  • the middle plate springs 353 having the ends 3531 fixed to the indenter shaft 104 are elastically deformed while the indenter shaft 104 is moved toward the sample S, and the warped spring shape of each middle plate spring 353 approaches the straight spring shape.
  • the outer plate springs 354 are elastically deformed, and the warped spring shape of each outer plate spring 354 approaches the straight spring shape.
  • the upper and lower folding springs 351 are made plane by the extension of the middle plate springs 353 and the outer plate springs 354 of the folding springs 351, and the plane surface of each folding spring 351 is placed in a plane extending in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the indenter shaft 104.
  • the indenter shaft 104 is moved downward while elastically deforming the folding springs 351, and the indenter shaft 104 makes the indenter 103 push to the surface of the sample S at a predetermined force to form a dimple. Thereafter, a hardness measuring test of the sample S, for example, a low hardness test is performed according to the dimple formed by the intender 103 in the sample S.
  • each middle plate spring 353 in the supporting structure 305 approaches the straight spring shape
  • the warped spring shape of each outer plate spring 354 approaches the straight spring shape.
  • the middle plate springs 353 and the outer plate springs 354 extend in almost straight shape in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the indenter shaft 104.
  • the indenter shaft 104 is not displaced in the direction perpendicular to its axial direction. Accordingly, no deformation is generated in the dimple formed by the indenter 103, and error in the calculated hardness can be reduced without any complicated mechanism.
  • the middle plate springs 353 and the outer plate springs 354 of the folding springs 351 have the non-linear elastic characteristic. That is, the smaller the displacement of the springs is, the larger the spring constant is. The larger the displacement of the springs is, the smaller the spring constant is. Therefore, when the displacement of the folding springs 351 is large, that is, when the warped spring shape of each folding spring 351 is changed to the straight spring shape by the movement of the indenter shaft 104 toward the sample S caused by the applying of the test force to the indenter shaft 104, because the spring constant becomes small, the stiffness of the folding springs 351 in the axial direction of the indenter shaft 104 can be lowered. Accordingly, in correction in the calculation of a substantial test force, because the amount of correction can be reduced, error in the calculated hardness can be reduced.
  • the indenter shaft 104 can be supported by only the folding springs 351. Accordingly, no other mechanism for supporting the indenter shaft 104 is required.
  • the hardness testing apparatus of the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.
  • the present invention is not limited to the folding spring made of beryllium cupper, and material obtainable the non-linear elastic characteristic by the shaping may be applicable for the folding spring.
  • the shaping method, the setting of the non-linear elastic characteristic and the like in the folding spring can be appropriately modified without departing from the scope of the invention.
  • a hardness testing apparatus 601 of the seventh embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 21 to 23.
  • the hardness testing apparatus 601 comprises a testing apparatus body 402 having constitutional elements of the apparatus 601 in the inside thereof, a loading arm 403 rotatably supported by the testing apparatus body 402, an arm driver 404 acting as a test force applying section for applying a test force to the loading arm 403 and driving the loading arm 403, a turret 408 rotatably arranged below the loading arm 403 in the testing apparatus body 402 and acting as a supporting section, an indenter shaft 406 attached to the turret 408 and having an indenter 405 at the top of the indenter shaft 406, a plurality of objective lenses 407 attached to the turret 408, a sample stand 409 having the sample S mounted thereon and arranged opposite to the turret 408, a photography section 410 for photographing a dimple formed in the sample S on the sample stand 409, and a display 416 for displaying an enlarged image of the dimple.
  • a control section 611 shown in FIG. 23 controls operations
  • the loading arm 403 comprises an arm body 431 and a rotational shaft 432 for rotatably supporting an end 431a of the arm body 431 in the testing apparatus body 402.
  • Another end 431b of the arm body 431 is divided into a first other end 431b and a second other end 431c so as to diverge at the fork.
  • the first other end 431b is formed in plate spring shape and has a warp performance to be able to be warped.
  • a loading shaft 433 elastically supported by a coil spring 433a is arranged between the lower surface of the arm body 431 and the testing apparatus body 402.
  • an arm displacement detection member 434 is arranged to detect an amount of divergence between the first other end 431b and the second other end 431c when the loading arm 403 (arm body 431) is driven.
  • the end 431a of the arm body 431 is rotatably supported by the rotational shaft 432 in the testing apparatus body 402.
  • the arm driver 404 is connected to the first other end 431b and generates an action force for driving the loading arm 403 as a test force.
  • the arm driver 404 When the arm driver 404 is operated, the arm body 431 is rotationally moved around the rotational shaft 432.
  • the arm body 431 When the arm body 431 is rotationally moved downward, the arm body 431 pushes the loading shaft 433 downward and moves the loading shaft 433.
  • the loading shaft 433 transmits the driving and operation of the arm body 431 (loading arm 403) to the indenter shaft 406 (refer to FIG. 21).
  • the arm displacement detection member 434 comprises a scale having graduations curved at predetermined intervals, and a linear encoder for optically reading the graduations of the scale.
  • the arm displacement detection member 434 detects an amount of divergence (amount of spring displacement) between the first other end 431b and the second other end 431c and outputs an arm displacement signal based on the detected amount of divergence to the control section 611.
  • the amount of divergence (amount of spring displacement) corresponds to a pushing force (test force) for pushing the sample S by the indenter 405 or a load applied to the sample S.
  • the arm driver 404 comprises a servomotor 441, a ball screw 443, a timing belt 442 wound on a motor shaft 441a of the servomotor 441 and a screw shaft 443a of the ball screw 443, and a fixed jig 444 held by the ball screw 443.
  • the arm driver 404 is connected to the loading arm 403 by fixing a plate spring 444a of the fixed jig 444 to the first other end 431b of the arm body 431.
  • the servomotor 441 is driven according to a driving control signal received from the control section 611.
  • the driving force of the motor shaft 441a of the servomotor 441 rotated by the driving of the servomotor 441 is transmitted to the screw shaft 443a of the ball screw 443 through the timing belt 442, and the ball screw 443 is rotated.
  • the fixed jig 444 is vertically moved due to the rotational driving of the ball screw 443.
  • the arm driver 404 vertically move the fixed jig 444 according to the driving of the servomotor 441, transmits the driving (driving force) to the first other end 431b of the arm body 431 connected to the fixed jig 444 and rotationally moves the arm body 431 (loading arm 403).
  • the arm driver 404 drives the loading arm 403, the plate spring 444a is warped.
  • the sample stand 409 comprises a sample stage 491 mounting the sample S thereon and a stage lifting member 492 arranged on the lower surface of the sample stage 491.
  • the stage lifting member 492 has a screw 492a, and the sample stage 491 can be vertically moved relatively to the testing apparatus body 402 by rotating the screw 492a.
  • the turret 408 comprises a turret body 481 and a rotational shaft 482 for rotatably supporting the turret body 481 in the testing apparatus body 402.
  • the indenter shaft 406, the objective lens 407 and an indenter shaft displacement detection member 420 acting as a penetration detection member for detecting an amount of displacement of the indenter shaft 406 are arranged.
  • the indenter shaft 406 is place in the turret body 481 by using an indenter shaft holder 461.
  • the turret body 481 is connected to a driving motor 483 acting as a driving section.
  • the driving motor 483 is driven by supplying current from the control section 611 to the driving motor 483, and positions of the indenter shaft 406 and the objective lens 407 are changed to other ones by rotating the turret body 481.
  • the indenter shaft holder 461 comprises a longitudinal holding member 461a and two plate springs 461b laterally extending from the longitudinal holding member 461a.
  • the indenter shaft 406 is elastically supported by the plate springs 461b.
  • the indenter shaft 406 is placed perpendicularly to the sample mounting surface of the sample stage 491, particularly, the surface (upper surface) of the sample S mounted on the sample stage 491.
  • the indenter 405 is changeably placed at the lower end of the indenter shaft 406.
  • a microscope 411 of the photography section 410 has the objective lens 407. As shown in FIG. 22, when the turret 408 (turret body 481) is rotated to change the position of the objective lens 407 to another position corresponding to the photography section 410, the photography section 410 can photograph the sample S.
  • the indenter shaft displacement detection member 420 for example, comprises a scale having graduations curved at predetermined intervals, and a linear encoder for optically reading the graduations of the scale.
  • the detection member 420 detects an amount of displacement of the indenter shaft 406 moved to form a dimple in the sample S (that is, an amount of penetration of the indenter 405 pushed into the sample S, depth of the dimple) and outputs an indenter shaft displacement detection signal based on the detected amount of displacement to the control section 611.
  • the photography section 410 comprises the microscope 411, a charge coupled device (CCD) camera 410a (refer to FIG. 23) attached to the microscope 411 and an illuminating device (not shown) for illuminating an observation position of the sample S.
  • the photography section 410 (CCD camera 410a) photographs the dimple formed on the surface of the sample S and outputs image data of the photographed dimple to the control section 611.
  • the display 416 is, for example, a liquid crystal monitor or the like and displays the image data of the photographed dimple. Further the display 416 displays the test force at which the indenter 405 is pushed into the surface of the sample S and which is calculated by the control section 611.
  • the control section 611 comprises arithmetic devices including a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM) and the like. To form a dimple according to predetermined operational conditions (operational conditions of each hardness test) preset to perform a predetermined hardness test, the control section 611 controls operations of the members of the apparatus 601 by executing a predetermined program stored in the ROM.
  • CPU central processing unit
  • ROM read only memory
  • RAM random access memory
  • control section 611 compares the arm displacement signal received from the arm displacement detection member 434 and preset arm displacement data and outputs a driving control signal to the servomotor 441 to control the arm driver 404 (servomotor 441) for the purpose of rotatably moving the loading arm 403 so as to make the indenter 405 act on the sample S at a predetermined test force (load).
  • control section 611 functions as a distance calculation section for calculating distance between predetermined characteristic points of the dimple according to the amount of penetration of the indenter 405 into the sample S detected by the indenter shaft displacement detection member 420.
  • control section 611 functions as an objective lens selection section for selecting an objective lens 407, which is optimum to display an enlarged image of the dimple, from the plurality of objective lenses 407 held by the turret 408 according to the calculated distance between the predetermined characteristic points of the dimple.
  • the selection criterion of the objective lens 407 is that the objective lens 407 capable to display the dimple at the largest image on the display 416 is optimum.
  • control section 611 functions as a driving control section for controlling the driving motor 483 connected to the turret 408 to move the indenter shaft 406 after the formation of the dimple and to move the selected objective lens 407 above the dimple.
  • the indenter 405 is initially attached to the indenter shaft 406, the sample S is mounted on the sample stand 409, and the turret 408 and the sample stand 409 are adjusted.
  • control section 611 drives the arm driver 404 to rotationally move the loading arm 403 downward and to move the indenter shaft 406 downward through the loading shaft 433. Therefore, the indenter 405 attached to the top of the indenter shaft 406 is pushed into the sample S, and a dimple having an almost rectangular shape is formed in the sample S.
  • the control section 611 controls the indenter shaft displacement detection member 420 to detect an amount of penetration of the indenter 405 into the sample S, that is, depth of the dimple. Thereafter, the control section 611 calculates length of a diagonal line of the dimple from the detected depth of the dimple. In the calculation of the length of the diagonal line of the dimple, a relational formula indicating the relation between the depth of the dimple and the length of the diagonal line is used.
  • the control section 611 selects the objective lens 407 optimum to the size of the dimple.
  • the objective lens 407 having a magnification, at which the image of the dimple is enlarged at superior visibility without deforming the image of the dimple to display the enlarged image on the display 416 of the hardness testing apparatus 601, is selected.
  • control section 611 controls the driving motor 483 to rotate the turret 408, and the position of the selected objective lens 407 shown in FIG. 22 is changed to a position of the dimple observation, that is, a position corresponding to the photography section 410.
  • the photography section 410 photographs the dimple formed in the sample S and outputs image data of the photographed dimple to the control section 611, and the control section 611 displays the image of the dimple on the display 416.
  • the hardness testing apparatus 601 of this embodiment when the arm driver 404 applies the test force to the indenter 405, the indenter 405 is pushed into the sample S, and the dimple is formed in the sample S. At this time, the indenter shaft displacement detection member 420 detects the amount of penetration of the indenter 405 into the sample S, and the control section 611 calculates the length of the diagonal line of the dimple according to the detected amount of penetration. The control section 611 selects the optimum objective lens 407 from the plurality of objective lenses 407 according to the length of the diagonal line of the dimple and rotates the turret 408 to move the selected objective lens 407 above the dimple. That is, though the selection of the objective lens 407 based on the dimple is performed by user's experience in the earlier development, the hardness testing apparatus 601 automatically performs the selection of the objective lens 407.
  • the user using the hardness testing apparatus 601 to perform the hardness test is not required to select the objective lens 407 by user's experience or knowledge and is not required to set the objective lens corresponding to the dimple by himself or herself, even a person insufficiently skilled in the hardness test can easily perform the hardness test.
  • control section 611 selects the objective lens 407 corresponding to the display of the largest image of the dimple on the display 416, the user can easily grasp features of the dimple.
  • a hardness testing apparatus 602 of the eighth embodiment automatically selects one objective lens 407 according to information relating to size of a dimple.
  • the constituent elements indicated by the same reference numerals as those in the seventh embodiment are the same as those in the seventh embodiment. Therefore, the description of the constituent elements is omitted.
  • the hardness testing apparatus 602 comprises the testing apparatus body 402, the loading arm 403, the arm driver 404, the turret 408, the indenter shaft 406, the objective lens 407, the sample stand 409, the photography section 410, the display 416, the indenter shaft displacement detection member 420, the arm displacement detection member 434 and an input section 415 for receiving information relating to a hardness of the sample S and/or size of a dimple.
  • a control section 612 shown in FIG. 24 controls operations of the members of the hardness testing apparatus 602.
  • the input section 415 is, for example, a keyboard or a mouse.
  • the input section 415 functions as an assumed hardness input section for receiving a hardness of the sample S assumed by the user and functions as a dimple information input section for receiving information relating to size of the dimple.
  • the control section 612 functions as the driving control section in the same manner as in the control section 611 and functions as an objective lens selection section for selecting the objective lens 407 to be used for observation of the dimple according to information relating to size of the dimple received in the input section 415.
  • control section 612 functions as a test force calculation section for calculating a test force, at which the indenter 405 is pushed to the surface of the sample S, according to both the hardness of the sample S received in the input section 415 and the objective lens 407 selected by the control section 612.
  • the indenter 405 is initially attached to the indenter shaft 406, the sample S is mounted on the sample stand 409, and the turret 408 and the sample stand 409 are adjusted.
  • the user assumes a hardness of the sample S for a hardness test and inputs the assumed hardness to the input section 415. Further, the user inputs conditions (for example, a condition for observing the dimple with high accuracy, a condition for observing inside of the sample S at top priority and the like) relating to size of a dimple to the input section 415.
  • the control section 612 selects one objective lens 407 optimum to the observation of the dimple according to the inputted information relating to the size of the dimple.
  • control section 612 calculates a test force according to the inputted hardness of the sample S and a magnification of the selected objective lens 407.
  • a relational formula, a table or the like indicating the relation among the hardness of the sample S, the magnification of the objective lens 407 and the test force is used.
  • the control section 612 drives the arm driver 404 to rotationally move the loading arm 403 downward and to move downward the indenter shaft 406 through the loading shaft 433.
  • the indenter 405 attached to the top of the indenter shaft 406 is pushed into the sample S at the calculated test force, and a dimple formed in almost rectangular shape is formed in the sample S.
  • control section 612 controls the driving motor 483 to rotate the turret 408, and the position of the selected objective lens 407 is changed to a position of the dimple observation, that is, a position corresponding to the photography section 410, as shown in FIG. 22.
  • the photography section 410 photographs the dimple formed in the sample S and outputs image data of the photographed dimple to the control section 612, and the control section 612 displays the image of the dimple on the display 416.
  • the user inputs the assumed hardness of the sample S and information relating to the size of the dimple to the input section 415.
  • the control section 612 selects one objective lens 407 used for the observation of the dimple according to the information relating to the size of the dimple received in the input section 415. Further, the control section 612 calculates the test force, at which the indenter 405 is pushed to the surface of the sample S, according to the hardness of the sample S received in the input section 415 and the objective lens 407 selected by the control section 612. After the formation of the dimple, the control section 612 moves the indenter 405 and controls the driving motor 483 to move the selected optimum objective lens 407 above the dimple.
  • the hardness testing apparatus 602 selects the objective lens 407 used for observation and calculates the test force required for the formation of the sample. Accordingly, the user is not required of the setting of the test force by user's experience performed in the earlier development, and an accurate test force corresponding to the hardness of the sample S assumed by the user can be set.
  • the display 416 displays the test force calculated by the control section 612, the test force can be visually notified to the user. Accordingly, the hardness test can be easily performed, and the test force can be conveniently recorded.
  • the input section 415 functions as an objective lens selection section for making a user select one objective lens 407 to be used for observation of the dimple.
  • the control section 612 functions as a recognition section for recognizing a magnification of the selected objective lens 407. Further, the control section 612 functions as a test force calculation section for calculating a test force, at which the indenter 405 is pushed into the surface of the sample S, according to both the hardness of the sample S received in the input section 415 and the magnification of the objective lens 407 recognized by the control section 612.
  • the indenter 405 is initially attached to the indenter shaft 406, the sample S is mounted on the sample stand 409, and the turret 408 and the sample stand 409 are adjusted.
  • the user assumes a hardness of the sample S for a hardness test and inputs the hardness to the input section 415. Further, the user inputs one objective lens 407 to be used for observation of the dimple to the input section 415.
  • the control section 612 recognizes a magnification of the inputted objective lens 407 and calculates a test force according to the inputted hardness of the sample S and the recognized magnification of the objective lens 407. In the calculation of the test force, a relational formula, a table or the like indicating the relation among the hardness of the sample S, the magnification of the objective lens 407 and the test force is used.
  • the control section 612 drives the arm driver 404 to rotationally move the loading arm 403 downward and to move downward the indenter shaft 406 through the loading shaft 433.
  • the indenter 405 attached to the top of the indenter shaft 406 is pushed into the sample S at the calculated test force, and a dimple formed in almost rectangular shape is formed in the sample S.
  • control section 612 controls the driving motor 483 to rotate the turret 408, and the position of the selected objective lens 407 is changed to a position of the dimple observation, that is, a position corresponding to the photography section 410, as shown in FIG. 22.
  • the photography section 410 photographs the dimple formed in the sample S and outputs image data of the photographed dimple to the control section 612, and the control section 612 displays the image of the dimple on the display 416.
  • the user inputs the hardness of the sample S assumed by the user to the input section 415, and the user selects and inputs one objective lens 407 to be used for the observation of the dimple to the input section 415.
  • the control section 612 recognizes a magnification of the inputted objective lens 407 and calculates a test force, at which the indenter 405 is pushed to the surface of the sample S, according to the inputted hardness of the sample S and the recognized magnification of the objective lens 407. After the formation of a dimple, the control section 612 moves the indenter 405 and controls the driving motor 483 to move the selected optimum objective lens 407 above the dimple.
  • the hardness testing apparatus 603 calculates a test force required for the formation of the sample. Accordingly, the user is not required of the setting of the test force performed by user's experience in the earlier development, and an accurate test force corresponding to the hardness of the sample S assumed by the user can be set.
  • the display 416 displays the test force calculated by the control section 612, the test force can be visually notified to the user. Accordingly, the hardness test can be easily performed, and the test force can be conveniently recorded.
  • the hardness testing apparatus is not limited to the seventh, eighth and ninth embodiments.
  • the selected objective lens 407 is automatically placed above the sample S by rotating the turret 408.
  • a speaker (not shown) or the display 416 acting as a notification section may notify the user of the selected objective lens 407 indicated by voice or sound output from the speaker or an image displayed on the display 416.
  • the speaker and the display 416 acting as the notification section may be arranged.
  • the invention can be appropriately modified without departing from the scope of the invention.

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ITMI20090591A1 (it) * 2009-04-10 2010-10-11 Davide Affri Durometro di tipo universale con dispositivo di lettura dell'impronta perfezionato.
CN102564878A (zh) * 2010-10-06 2012-07-11 株式会社三丰 硬度测试仪
CN103913390A (zh) * 2012-12-28 2014-07-09 株式会社三丰 硬度测试仪
EP2543984A3 (de) * 2011-07-05 2018-03-07 Mitutoyo Corporation Härtetester und Testverfahren
CN111829763A (zh) * 2020-04-28 2020-10-27 同济大学 包容式节点的电动弹簧疲劳测试装置
CN112400102A (zh) * 2018-04-23 2021-02-23 伊利诺斯工具制品有限公司 具有枢转体并且能够向其上的附件提供电力的硬度测试仪
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AT505557B1 (de) * 2008-02-21 2009-02-15 Emco Test Pruefmaschinen Gmbh Vorrichtung zur härteprüfung von werkstücken
AT506310B1 (de) * 2008-02-21 2009-08-15 Emco Test Pruefmaschinen Gmbh Vorrichtung zur härteprüfung von werkstücken
DE102009009996A1 (de) 2008-02-21 2009-09-03 EMCO-TEST Prüfmaschinen GmbH Vorrichtung zur Härteprüfung von Werkstücken
DE102009008288A1 (de) 2008-02-21 2009-09-03 EMCO-TEST Prüfmaschinen GmbH Vorrichtung zur Härteprüfung von Werkstücken
ITMI20090591A1 (it) * 2009-04-10 2010-10-11 Davide Affri Durometro di tipo universale con dispositivo di lettura dell'impronta perfezionato.
EP2239556A1 (de) 2009-04-10 2010-10-13 Davide Affri Universaldurometer mit verbessertem Vertiefungslesegerät
CN102564878A (zh) * 2010-10-06 2012-07-11 株式会社三丰 硬度测试仪
CN102564878B (zh) * 2010-10-06 2015-02-04 株式会社三丰 硬度测试仪
EP2543984A3 (de) * 2011-07-05 2018-03-07 Mitutoyo Corporation Härtetester und Testverfahren
CN103913390A (zh) * 2012-12-28 2014-07-09 株式会社三丰 硬度测试仪
CN103913390B (zh) * 2012-12-28 2018-11-06 株式会社三丰 硬度测试仪
CN112400102A (zh) * 2018-04-23 2021-02-23 伊利诺斯工具制品有限公司 具有枢转体并且能够向其上的附件提供电力的硬度测试仪
CN111829763A (zh) * 2020-04-28 2020-10-27 同济大学 包容式节点的电动弹簧疲劳测试装置
GB2606243A (en) * 2020-12-21 2022-11-02 Helmut Fischer Gmbh Inst Fuer Elektronik Und Messtechnik Indenter receptacle for a measuring device, and a measuring device for detecting signals

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ATE449324T1 (de) 2009-12-15
US20040134263A1 (en) 2004-07-15
US7121136B2 (en) 2006-10-17
DE60330109D1 (de) 2009-12-31
EP1434045A3 (de) 2005-06-01
US20060288763A1 (en) 2006-12-28
US7380443B2 (en) 2008-06-03

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